Diageo announced it has acquired Far West Spirits, owner of the Lone River Ranch Water (‘Lone River’) brand. Lone River is a hard seltzer that takes inspiration from the popular classic Texan “Ranch Water” cocktail.

Lone River was founded in 2019 by native Texan, Katie Beal Brown. Katie will retain a minority interest and continue to lead the business on a day to day basis, as Chief Executive Officer of the brand. She will work closely with Diageo North America leadership to build further on Lone River’s success.

Taking inspiration from the Ranch Water cocktail enjoyed by Katie’s family for generations, the brand is inspired by the spirit of West Texas and its sense of adventure. During Covid-19, the ready to drink (‘RTD’) category has increasingly gained momentum in the United States, driven by consumer trends such as interest in lower sugar, lower calorie and gluten free offerings, as well as increased demand for convenient formats that are ideal for casual and at-home occasions. Between 2016 and 2019, the category grew 20%1, driven by growth of 259%2 in the hard seltzer segment.