On screens, big or small, Cole Hauser is best known for his role as bad boy cowboy Rip Wheeler on the hit Western drama Yellowstone. At long last, the drama returns for its fifth and final season on Paramount beginning November 10th. The show follows the turbulent saga of the Dutton family ranching empire as they defend their way of life at all costs, with Cole’s character often leading the charge. But off-screen, Cole is more than an actor. He’s a coffee and bourbon connoisseur who is expanding his rugged brand into Texas. Recently, he’s helped launch a new bourbon whiskey that pays homage to generations of working cowboys.
Dubbed Lazy K Bar, the award-winning straight bourbon whiskey that was once available only in Montana, the setting for Yellowstone, is now available to Texas whiskey lovers and fans of the show.
“There's a big bourbon culture here,” Cole said. “We appreciate that, love it, and look forward to sharing our bourbon with Texas.”
Lazy K Bar draws its name from the Lazy K Bar Ranch in Montana, one of the oldest cattle ranches in the state. The whiskey is a partnership between Cole, David Leuschen, owner of Lazy K Bar Ranch in Montana, and Britt West, a 25-year beverage industry veteran and VP of Spirits at Gallo. Just in time for the holidays, bourbon lovers can now pick up a bottle of Lazy K Bar Whiskey from select Spec’s Wine, Spirits & Foods, and other retailers across Texas.
Lazy K Bar is aged at least eight years in Kentucky inside charred new oak barrels to create a complex, memorable flavor. At 92 proof, it’s an incredibly smooth mix of caramel, toffee, and aged honey. Each sip is a sweet balance of malted grain and sweet spices that warms the body. Cole calls it “perfection,” saying his favorite way to enjoy Lazy K Bar is neat, without mixers or additions.
“I like a smooth, easy finish,” Cole said. “One that doesn't kick you in the mouth. This one, really, I think we knocked it out of the park.”
Lazy K Bar is Cole’s second business foray into the beverage market in Texas. His first was Free Rein Coffee, a collaboration between several entrepreneurs and longtime San Angelo coffee roasters. Free Rein supports military charities and offers discounts to first responders, military personnel, teachers, and medical providers.
While Cole is best known for his Yellowstone role, Hollywood is in his blood. His great-grandfather was Harry Warner, one of the founders of Warner Brothers Studios. Two of his grandfathers were writers. His father, Wings Hauser, was an actor, and his mother, Cass Warner, was the founder of the Warner Sisters production company. Cole has starred in dozens of films, including Dazed and Confused, Good Will Hunting, and The Ritual Killer.
Aside from sharing his coffee and bourbon, Cole says he enjoys spending time in Texas filming and visiting friends and family. His son attends Texas Christian University, and last year, Cole appeared at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to visit with fans. The Yellowstone universe, which was created by Texas native Taylor Sheridan, has often used Texas as the backdrop for its storylines to unfold.
“Texas has been kind of a second home,” Cole said. “I get along well with your values and your beliefs down here.”
With the final episodes of Yellowstone premiering this month, it’s a fitting time to pick up a bottle of Lazy K Bar, settle in with a glass, and enjoy the show. Cole laughed at this idea and (spoiler alter) suggested that fans might need more than one glass.
“I hope they drink the whole season with Lazy K Bar,” he said. “You know, it's an emotional season and they might need a little bourbon.”
“Texas has been kind of a second home,” says Cole Hauser. “I get along well with your values and your beliefs down here.”
“I like a smooth, easy finish,” Cole says, “One that doesn't kick you in the mouth. This one, really, I think we knocked it out of the park.”