Texas’ Ranch Water Breaks Into The Hard Seltzer Market

“Ranch water” might not sound like a refreshing cocktail, but people in West Texas have been enjoying this drink as a way to cool off from the sweltering heat for a long time. The summertime beverage is typically made with tequila, Topo Chico and lime juice—with the option to add ice for a colder sip.

Katie Beal Brown and her family have been drinking ranch water on their Far West Texas ranch for as long as she can remember. The exact origins of the cocktail are unknown, but it’s rumored to be the creation of a rancher in West Texas in the 1960s. The spirit of the drink supposedly had him following the stars all the way from Fort Davis to Marathon. At the end of his journey, he was found asleep under a piñon tree.

Brown started Lone River Beverage Company in 2019 with the goal of offering something different in the hard seltzer category. According to her company, the hard seltzer brands that are currently available leave the consumer with few options beyond a “skinny can with fruity flavors.” Looking to provide a new alternative, the founder and CEO decided to sell ranch water in a can and make it approachable on all fronts: taste, price point and availability.

The product is also a celebration of her own heritage and West Texas, where her family settled generations ago. “When I think of people from West Texas, I think of no frills, get-the-job-done kind of people,” Brown said in a statement. “I think that’s also what Lone River Ranch Water represents.”

Lone River is a blend of 100% organic agave nectar, natural key lime juice, a gluten-free alcohol base made from sugar and carbonated seltzer water. How does it compare to White Claw, the frontrunner of the hard seltzer category? In a 12-ounce can, the ranch water contains 85 calories, 3g carbs and 4% alcohol. A 12-ounce can of White Claw has 100 calories, 2g carbs and 5% alcohol, and comes in eight different fruit flavors. The lower-calorie White Claw, which debuted earlier this month with two flavors (pineapple and clementine), contains 70 calories, 0g carbs and 3.7% alcohol per 12-ounce can.

Lone River Beverage Company is currently in partnership with Ben E. Keith, a Texas-based distributor, to make its product available statewide. The hard seltzer beverage is sold as a six-pack, with a suggested retail price of $8.99, and can be found at major retailers such as Whole Foods Market, Central Market, H-E-B, Kroger, Albertsons, 7-Eleven, Total Wine & More, as well as independent stores. Lone River is also sold in Tennessee, with plans to expand into other states later this summer.

And more flavors are on the way. Brown plans on introducing Spicy Ranch Water, which is flavored with jalapeño, and Rio Red Grapefruit Ranch Water this August. Both flavors salute the company’s roots. The jalapeño is the state pepper of Texas and the Rio Red grapefruit originated there.

As Lone River expands its reach, the canned ranch water could become quite a contender in the hard seltzer category. The cocktail itself is having a moment, at least online. The Kitchn noticed that searches for “ranch water” have made a leap on Google Trends, just within the last month.