There has been quite a dominant force come over the hard seltzer market this past year; Topo Chico and its sidekick cocktail, Ranch Water.
Topo Chico has been around since 1895, when the company was founded, but the legend around it is considerably older *.
As legend has it, back in 1440, a diseased Aztec princess drank from a spring in northern Mexico at a mole-shaped hill. The water had brought her health back, she was cured. The famous Topo Chico water is sourced from that same northern Mexican spring that cured the Aztec princess *.
Whether or not you believe the legend of Topo Chico, the hype around the product is undeniable. The Topo Chico Hard Seltzer launched on March 29th, 2021, in select U.S. states and cities **.
During the next week of April 4th, 2021, Topo Chico took over 3.1% of the overall hard seltzer market, while in comparison, Vizzy and Coors Seltzer combined took 3.2% ***.
Ranch Water has also been taking over the talks of cocktails across the country. The West Texas mixed drink is all over Instagram and canned versions are hitting the shelves. But what is Ranch Water and where did the name come from? In simple terms, it contains tequila, lime, and Topo Chico Mineral Sparkling Water. While the concept isn’t very new and exciting, there is nothing that can replace the Topo Chico if you want a true, authentic Ranch Water cocktail ****.
The origin story of Ranch Water is a bit blurry, as there are a few narratives on how this came to be. A local tale hints that a 1960s rancher was the first to create the concoction, but an additional common fable says that it was the refreshment the ranchers would drink at the end of a long day working. Some people associate the drink with The Gage Hotel in Marathon, Texas, or Kevin Williamson of Ranch 616 in Austin ****.
