Quentin Cantu was charismatic and super enthusiastic about extolling the virtues of Ranch Rider Spirits as he led Austin Life’s team on a tour around the base of operations in Dripping Springs. While he explained the recent expansion and addition of more buildings and tanks to make their spirits, that are a mix of only fresh ingredients, it’s hard to imagine Quentin worked in politics before he says he was became disenchanted by the career path in 2016. Switching gears, he came back to Texas in 2016 to pursue an MBA at UT where he met Ranch Rider co-founder Brian Murphy. Like many of their friends they were disappointed by the food options on campus and hungered for healthier choices. Using the knowledge recently learned in one of their classes, they created the solution, starting a food truck that served up healthy food for students – that was largely financed by UT professors. It was here they first mixed up healthy alcoholic cocktails. When the popularity of the drinks began to outpace the food, they decided to can the cocktails.
Ranch Rider Spirits launched January 2020 and currently has four varieties, all of which they make and can themselves. It’s available in 12 states, expanding rapidly and did nearly $4 million in sales their first year – despite it being a pandemic, and their product only available in retail locations. Here's more we learned during our chat with Quentin….
What’s your go-to flavor of Ranch Rider?
The Chilton. I think the acid of the lemon with the salt pairs really well, like a salty lemonade, which is perfect in the summer heat.
You did $4 million dollars in sales your first year, during a pandemic. Did you expect that?
Definitely not. We were super fortunate with the reception we got, principally in Austin, then in the rest of Texas.
What’s been your biggest challenge?
Figuring out a supply chain that’s scalable, especially in the midst of a global can shortage. And breaking through the noise of a category that’s become increasingly saturated to make sure consumers make Ranch Rider their go-to brand.
What sets Ranch Rider apart from the other products in the pretty saturated hard seltzer market?
I always love sampling Ranch Rider and the competitors with the consumers because you can tell on their faces as soon as you taste it…If you taste us alongside any other malt beverage or any spiked seltzer or the vast majority of spirit-based canned cocktails on the market I think ours wins because of our ingredients, because we don’t use anything synthetic, nothing artificial. It’s an all-natural better for you alcoholic product.
What are you excited about in the brand’s near future?
I’m excited to enter other markets and show people it’s possible to create a better for you beverage that’s super natural and doesn’t contain anything synthetic.
Ranch Rider currently has tequila and vodka-based varieties. Do you have plans to make any other flavors in the near future?
I think the world is our oyster and there will be other ideas that come into play. Maybe something with Mezcal, maybe something with bourbon.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in the 18 months since you went to market?
To be open to criticism and to hunt down nos. I think as an entrepreneur you should get told ‘no’ often because that makes the moment when you get to a yes that more meaningful and you learn through no more than you learn through a yes. We don’t take it personally now, we take it as a learning opportunity.
What do you like about being an entrepreneur in Austin?
It’s a very supportive community. Austin has a ton of amazingly successful and aspiring food and beverage entrepreneurs, I hardly ever encounter an issue that someone else hasn’t already gone through and having that support network is vital for any entrepreneur.
What are some of your favorite Austin-based brands?
Siete. The family, their whole story is so incredible and it’s become a staple in our household. I’m a big fan of Barrel Creek Provisions pickled products and Casper Fermentables, which is similar. I love seeing the vast array of health-focused CPG brands that are based here become successful.