Nico Tortorella × DER: The Story Behind the Kratom Brewski
At Korthals’ Collection, we have built our brand on respect for kratom and other botanicals that have supported wellness for centuries. We carry that heritage forward through modern innovation and uncompromising standards.
When Nico Tortorella came to us with the idea of a social beverage that could stand confidently alongside beer and seltzers while delivering a different kind of experience, we knew we were perfectly aligned. The result is DER, the world’s first kratom brewski.
DER is not just another non-alcoholic beverage. It represents a cultural shift toward mindful celebration. This collaboration with Nico marks our first-ever celebrity partnership and brings together a shared vision: to create something familiar yet fresh, grounded yet joyful. A drink designed for connection, ritual, and presence.
A Journey Rooted in Ritual
For Nico, ritual has always been central to creativity and wellbeing. After choosing sobriety in 2015, he sought ways to connect more deeply with himself and others without losing clarity. That journey led him to kratom, a tropical evergreen tree related to coffee that has been brewed as tea or chewed in Southeast Asia for centuries to support focus, balance, and restoration.
To Nico, kratom was never about escape. It was about presence. DER was born from that same intention: to celebrate showing up fully, without compromise.
How DER Was Brought to Life
Every detail of DER was created with purpose.
Ingredients: Grapefruit for brightness, hops oil for familiarity, purified water for clarity, and kratom extract for its grounding, functional edge.
Flavor Balance: Crisp and citrus-forward, approachable to beer and seltzer drinkers while still uniquely its own.
Naming the Ritual: We called it a “brewski” to challenge expectations. It is playful but intentional, signaling that DER is not trying to imitate anything else. It is defining its own category.
At just 30 milligrams of kratom, DER is ideal for those curious about trying the plant and equally fitting for experienced users seeking a light, low-dose option for winding down after work or enjoying an evening ritual without alcohol.
Built for Connection
DER is more than a drink. It is an invitation. A reminder that wellness belongs at the same table once reserved for alcohol. That socializing and sobriety can coexist. That ritual can evolve while keeping its heart.
For Nico, DER is a way to share his own journey while offering others a new kind of social experience. For Korthals’ Collection, it continues our mission to honor the plants that shape our wellbeing and to reimagine what mindful celebration can look like.
A New Kind of Celebration
From the bright bite of grapefruit to the grounding botanicals of kratom, DER is a non-alcoholic kratom beverage crafted for connection without blur and buzz without burnout. It is not a beer. It is not a mocktail. It is something entirely new.
Experience the brewski that tells a story.
DRINK. ENJOY. REPEAT.
At Korthals’ Collection, we believe kratom deserves a seat at the table. DER proves that you don’t have to sit out the celebration to stay true to yourself. Show up fully, raise your can, and join the party.
