The Lone Ranger Is the 2024 Drink of Summer

Rachel Marek. Prop Styling: Addelyn Evans

Ah, summer. The season of long weekends, patio gatherings, and relishing in the sunnier, slower pace of life. It’s also a season that ushers in many occasions to gather and raise a glass. We’re firm believers that rosé wine will always be in style come summer, but on the cocktail side, it can be a bit more challenging to narrow down the options.

Our recent «drink of summer» selections have included the Espresso Martini, Dirty Shirley, and Hugo Spritz. We’ve yet to tire of any of those, especially our pal Hugo, however, we’re always in the mood to mix things up. 

So to help us pinpoint what might just be 2024’s drink of summer, we polled 23 beverage experts from coast to coast, who have a pulse on the scene from New York City to Charleston, South Carolina and Nashville Tennessee to Greenough, Montana. “Light and fresh” was a common theme, as were lower-proof options. Still feedback like “we’re gonna see a lot more non-margarita tequila cocktails” and “tequila is more popular than it has ever been” had us thinking slightly outside of the spritz space.

When we saw the Lone Ranger having a bit of a moment on TikTok in late March, we knew we had unmasked the ultimate mixed drink of summer.

“The Lone Ranger is a drink with an intriguing mix of flavors that pays homage to the iconic character—something with a bold, adventurous twist,” explains Wayne Gravesande, assistant general manager at Ketchy Shuby in New York City.

It’s remarkably quick and easy to make, and only asks for four ingredients: tequila, sparkling wine, lemon juice, and simple syrup.

When we asked John deBary, a New York City-based drinks writer, hospitality consultant, and the author of Drink What You Want: The