Cocktail News

New Texas beverage company does ranch water with an extra kick

It has a little more bang than regular hard seltzer.

Photo courtesy of RancH20

The ranch water trend shows no signs of stopping, and now there's another new player: Called RancH20, it's a Dallas-based startup specializing in canned cocktails, available in stores on October 21.

RancH2O — which requires a pronunciation note: "Ranch Two Oh" — has mixed cocktails featuring real liquor. The name is a play on the words Ranch and H2O and is named after the flagship product, Ranch Water.

They come in four flavors:

Ranch Water — tequila, soda water, and lime
Classic Marg — tequila, soda water, lime, and orange, sweeter than Ranch Water, not as tart as a regular margarita
Vodka Soda — vodka, soda water, and cranberry
Gin Fizz — gin, soda water, and lime

They're packaged in 12-ounce cans, about 150 calories per can, running about 6.5 to 7 percent ABV, which is about the same ABV as a beer.

RancH20 founder Amelia Lettieri says in a statement that she created RancH2O to provide "a real cocktail experience in a convenient package without any question marks. No hidden agenda."

The release places great emphasis on the fact that it's not another hard seltzer but instead contains "real liquor."

According to Food Republic, the alcohol in hard seltzer comes from cold-brewed sugar and runs 4 to 6 percent ABV. As opposed to most clear spirits, which are grain-fermented and have a higher alcohol content. Who knew? Probably every bartender in town, that's who.

"Our cocktails use real liquor — tequila, vodka, and gin — and proof is in the proof. We are proud of our 6.5 to 7 percent ABV," Lettieri says. "You can taste the difference, and canned convenience means nothing if it doesn't taste great."

A Dallas native and graduate of Texas A&M, Lettieri developed her love for the beverage industry while working for a private-equity firm on the acquisition of Carolina Beverage Group, then learned about the consumer packaged goods industry working for 7-Eleven and Sunoco.

Four-packs of Ranch Water, Classic Marg, and Vodka Soda with cranberry are now available in Texas for $15. Gin Fizz will be released in spring 2021.

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Brunchy Business

Mimosa Walk returns to Austin's South 1st Street for sips and shopping

Blue Suede/Instagram

Businesses along South 1st Street are welcoming shoppers with mimosas on Saturday, November 16.

Perhaps no other drink has the mimosa's power to draw people out on the weekend, and one Austin neighborhood is harnessing it for a leisurely tour of local businesses. The Austin Mimosa Walk: South 1st Fall Festival is scheduled for November 16, and will stop at local businesses, each with complimentary drinks.

The tour will include some shopping, some casual snack spots, and even some wellness stops. Although not every business mimosa walkers will pass is participating, the tour will pass lots of local eateries, making it easy to tack on a lunch when the Champagne starts making itself known.

The following eight businesses are participating as stops on the self-guided tour:

Austin Salt Room — a spa-like environment for salt therapy, essentially hanging out near tons of salt while breathing in microscopic salt particles, which are said to improve respiratory health
Blue Suede Austin — a cool women's shoe boutique (with a wine bar!) that specializes in semi-casual styles at mid-range prices, featuring brands like Sam Edelman, Jeffrey Campbell, and Cecelia
Devil’s Details Boutique — formerly Bloomers and Frocks, this vintage shop has rebranded and shifted its focus to jewelry, often in bold and unique styles
Glint Dental — a dental office specializing in aesthetic procedures like veneers and whitening, but also offering general and preventative care
Golden Mean — early holiday shoppers should keep friends and family in mind at this gift shop, which carries unique goods ranging from soaps and blankets to kitchen goods and avant-garde decor.
Once Over Coffee— an unassuming-on-the-outside, artsy-on-the-inside coffee shop serving Wild Gift Coffee and less common coffee shop finds like kombucha and Italian soda
Package Austin — a queer menswear store for harnesses, underwear, accessories, toys, and community events
Sugar Mamas Bakeshop — a colorful bakery specializing in fantastically decorated cakes, often with a sarcastic or funny twist

The listing on Eventbrite promises a hydration station by Topo Chico, a collector's glass, and that the event will sell out. It requires that tickets ($32) be purchased in advance online. [Update: An event organizer says the ninth business on the Eventbrite list is still under construction, and will not be participating.]

The walk will take place from noon to 3:30 pm. Guests will receive a "passport" to help navigate between tour stops. A check-in tent will get guests started at 1628 S. 1st St.

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