Our Story.

Founder

Michelle Porter

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Flying Panda started with a love of making really good drinks, and a bigger idea about what a company could be. Michelle founded Flying Panda in 2019 with a background in microbiology, a passion for flavor, and a stubborn belief that you shouldn’t have to choose between quality, fun, and purpose.

She built the business from the ground up, from developing our recipes to figuring out how to actually get them into a can. When she couldn’t find someone else to make our drinks exactly the way she imagined, she did what any perfectly reasonable person would do: built a production facility. Because when you’re a little obsessive about the details, sometimes doing it yourself is the only way to protect the quality you care about.

Somewhere along the way, the panda became more than a name. It became a little reminder of what Flying Panda is: curious, bold, authentic.

Today, Michelle still has her hands in just about everything—and our goal hasn’t changed: make something we’re proud to put our name on, create a brand people genuinely enjoy being around, and whenever we can, leave things a little better than we found them.

Serious about what’s in the can. Serious about our mission. Not so serious about ourselves.

Made in Tennessee.

Knoxville roots.