While still full-time MBA candidates, the two hustled to bring the concept to life. In 2017, Murph linked up with his fellow B-school buddy, Quentin Cantu, to launch Ranch Hand – a meal delivery service and food truck catering to the college crowd. When Murph headed to the University Of Texas to join their MBA program, the wheels started turning for a new venture. He was – and still is – the ultimate closer.
I’m pretty sure he put together some of our major sponsorships at SXSW and other milestones throughout our history as an organization. During some very fond years here at BroBible, Murph thrived by navigating deep into the marketing waters of Big Beer and spirits conglomerates. We affectionately called him Sales Bro for his ability to be a true bro-fessional on calls and in meetings. Murph, as we call him, used to sell advertising here at BroBible. The design was unmistakable and uniquely Western in its elegance.īrian is the co-founder of Ranch Rider Spirits, a beverage company that embraces the rich motifs of the American West and hangs its hat on being the real deal ranch water in a can. Inside that box were dozens of Ranch Rider Spirits cans. The box was from my friend and former colleague, Brian Murphy. I’ll be honest: I had no idea what ranch water was until a big box of cans from Austin showed up at my house in Los Angeles last year.
I get why Texans are crazy about the stuff. Mixed in a formal setting like a wedding, sure, but also in the backyard after mowing the lawn or while bulldozing your way through a generous plate of BBQ brisket. The more time I spend in Texas visiting family and friends, the more I realize how much utility it has as an all-occasion adult beverage – and a worthy replacement for beer for the calorie-conscious.
Think of it like a diet margarita with the zing of bubbles. Unlike, say, a schmancy whiskey or gin cocktail, it puts on no airs. It’s become a cult cocktail favorite beyond just the confines of the Lonestar State. This delightful concoction is known as ranch water. The beer and wine flowed aplenty, but the marquee libation of the evening was a Texas staple: Topo Chico, generously mixed with fresh lime juice and proper Reposado tequila.