New Year, New Batch: Setting Intentions for 2026

I've never been great at New Year's resolutions.

The whole concept feels designed for neurotypical brains—pick one thing, stick to it, linear progress, check the box in December. My brain doesn't work that way. It never has. By January 15th, I've either hyperfocused the resolution into oblivion or completely forgotten it existed while chasing something shinier.

So I stopped making resolutions years ago. Instead, I set intentions. The difference matters.

A resolution is a destination. An intention is a direction.

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Where I'm Pointing in 2026

This year, AFC & Co is growing in ways I couldn't have imagined when I started this in 2019. Back then, it was just a name and a vague idea about doing things differently. Now there's a book series, a newsletter landing in inboxes, partnerships with distilleries I genuinely respect, and projects in development that I'm not quite ready to talk about yet.

But growth can be dangerous. I've watched plenty of creators and brands scale themselves into mediocrity—chasing metrics, saying yes to everything, diluting what made them worth following in the first place.

That's not happening here.

Intention #1: Quality remains non-negotiable.

Every recipe gets tested until it's right, not until it's "good enough." Every partnership has to align with what we actually believe. Every piece of content has to be worth your time. This isn't new, but it bears repeating because the pressure to compromise only increases as opportunities multiply.

Intention #2: Finish what I start.

This one's personal. ADHD means I'm excellent at beginnings. The spark of a new project, the first burst of hyperfocus, the excitement of possibility—I thrive there. But the middle? The unglamorous work of iteration and refinement? That's where things stall.

2026 is about completion. There's a whiskey project that's been evolving since version 2.0 that's finally ready for its next chapter. There's a concept I've been developing for ARKIPELAGO that needs to move from my head onto paper. There's a spring launch that's been quietly taking shape behind the scenes.

More on all of that soon.

Intention #3: Document the process, not just the product.

I've gotten better at this, but there's room to grow. The finished cocktail photo is satisfying, but the story of the seventeen failed versions that preceded it? That's where the real value lives. Especially for anyone else whose brain works like mine—seeing the messy middle matters.

Intention #4: Build slower, build stronger.

The Nightcap went out to subscribers for the first time last month. It would be easy to immediately start thinking about growth hacking, conversion rates, all the metrics that supposedly matter. Instead, I'm focused on making it good enough that the people who are here actually look forward to it. The audience will grow if the work deserves it.

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What This Means for You

If you're reading this, you're part of something I'm genuinely proud of. Not because of numbers or reach, but because this community keeps showing up for the right reasons—curiosity about craft, interest in neurodivergent perspectives, appreciation for doing things properly rather than quickly.

This year, you'll see more recipes, more behind-the-scenes looks at how things actually get made, more honest conversations about what works and what doesn't. You'll see some new projects come to life and some existing ones deepen.

And yeah, there's a batch of something special that's been aging and evolving, waiting for its moment. January's going to be a good month to pay attention.

Here's to pointing in the right direction.

—Alexander

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What intentions are you setting for 2026? I'd genuinely like to know. Drop a comment or find me on Instagram @afcandco.