b'infiniteCuriosity is key at Straightaway cocktailscultureCy Cain 95, co-founder of Portland-basedend ingredients, often locally and regionally sourced. Cain and co-founder Casey Richwine are cocktail enthusiasts with Straightaway Cocktails, is happy that so many SOUan interest in bootlegger cocktails of the 1920s and 30s. When they learned of a long-forgotten cocktail called the Lintik, they grads are part of Oregons rich spirits community.started mixing it in batches for parties. The pair soon realized Food and beverage are so important in Oregon,there was a market for high-end bottled and canned mixed drinks.and its cool to see SOU and Ashland getting soToday, Straightaways award-winning cocktails can be purchased directly from the company, found in a variety of much representation, he said.retail stores, and are available on most Alaska Airlines flights. Cocktail culture is infinite, so were always innovating here, Although he majored in psychology, Cain didnt anticipatesaid Cain. pursuing it as a profession after graduation. I loved studyingWhile running a business always has challenges, Cain credits psychology for a million different reasons, but it was more abouthis time at SOU with helping him to learn adaptability and learning things I was interested in and having time to exploreresilience. I loved SOU at first sight, with its beautiful campus those interests. That was an important part of school for me. and access to outdoor activities, so my first year I spent a lot Cains curiosity and comfort with exploration led him toof time playing tennis and basketball instead of focusing on seek work at start-up companies. Right out of college, I joinedacademics, said Cain. a founder-led startup. I thinkI loved studying psychology for a million different reasons, but it thats when it got into my DNAthewas more about learning things I was interested in and having time to act of creatingexplore those interests. That was an important part of school for me.something from scratch, building a brand, and getting a product to market, he said. He and his parents had agreed to split the cost of Cains That startup company didnt succeed; however, the experienceeducation, with them paying the first two years and him taught him a lot. Cain later joined a fledgling Seattle coffeepaying for the last two years. I remember vividly having to company called Starbucks. I had a whole bunch of different rolesgo home for the holidays and tell my parents that I essentially within the company. They were always innovating, and I likedwasted their money and resources. I took responsibility, paid being a part of something new, he said. Working at Starbucksthem back financially for that first year of poor grades then and tasting thousands of cups of coffee and tea helped to trainturned it around, he said. With hard work and support from Cains palate to identify flavor profiles. Looking back, it washis professors, Cain went from being on academic probation shaping me for this world of cocktail crafting that Im now in. to the Deans list the very next quarter. Realizing the real-life Straightaway is a bottled cocktail company that features high- consequences of my behavior was a huge life lesson, he said. THE RAIDER|SPRING 20259'