If you’re always on the hunt for the next great thing to toss in your cooler, listen up. Lake Hour, the canned cocktail brand co-founded by actor Wyatt Russell and film producer Rich Peete, just made Austin its very first stop in Texas. That means you can grab a cold one at select Austin-area retailers (or order online) right as lake season kicks into gear. The timing could not be better.
What You Need to Know About Wyatt Russell’s Canned Cocktail Brand Lake Hour
Lake Hour got its start in the Finger Lakes of New York, inspired by those lazy, nostalgic days out on the water. The cans are made with real liquor and real juice, which means you skip the artificial aftertaste a lot of the ready-to-drink stuff leaves behind. They’re also gluten-free, made with premium vodka or blanco tequila, with just a pinch of cane sugar.
There’s a solid flavor lineup too. You’ll find vodka and tequila seltzers plus vodka iced teas, in flavors like: Peach Jasmine, Rosemary Yuzu, Watermelon Cucumber, Earl Grey Tea, Green Tea, Raspberry Tea, and Blackberry Tea. Good luck picking a favorite.
A quick word on the guys behind the can, because the backstory is half the fun. Wyatt Russell is the actor you know from Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and this year’s Thunderbolts. And yes, he’s the son of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell (he was also a pro hockey player in a past life).
Rich Peete is a film producer whose credits include Blue Ruin and The Legend of Ochi. The two became friends through their wives, who are best friends, and as the story goes, Lake Hour was dreamed up in a hot tub on a family vacation. Both grew up on lakes; Wyatt in Ontario and Rich in upstate New York. They wanted a canned cocktail that actually tasted like the fruit on the label instead of the usual sugar bomb.
Why Austin Is The First Texas City To Sample Lake Hour
As for why the brand picked Austin to kick off Texas, it tracks. We’ve got the lakes, the heat, the live music, a food and drink scene that never quits and a crowd that’s always game to try something new. Fun fact: Austin has quietly become one of the biggest ready-to-drink markets in the country, so a quality can with real spirits in it was bound to land well here.
Both founders also have real history with the city. Wyatt has longtime Texas roots and has spent plenty of time in Austin, both for film and for friends. You may recall that he took our Texas This or That quiz when the Everybody Wants Some cast attended the Texas Film Awards in 2016.
Meanwhile, Rich is in town constantly producing commercial and film projects, with relationships all over the local creative and hospitality scenes. By their telling, Austin always felt less like a new market and more like a natural extension of the brand.
Boat day, backyard cookout, or a 100-degree Tuesday that calls for something cold and easy? Lake Hour’s worth a spot in the rotation. Look for it at select Austin retailers or online at lakehour.com, and give them a follow at @drinklakehour.
