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.

Why The Lone Ranger is Trending

“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 Subjective Guide to Making Objectively Delicious Cocktails, what the Lone Ranger reminded him of, he explained that it’s like a mash-up of Ranch Water (tequila and club soda), a spritz, and a French 75 (which contains all of the same ingredients, just with gin instead of tequila).

“The Lone Ranger was invented by a bartender in Portland, Oregon, Jeff Morgenthaler. If I remember correctly, he made it as a riff on a French 75, replacing the gin with tequila and Champagne with sparkling rosé,” clarifies Darrick Bourgeois, lead bartender at Pelato and Luogo in Nashville, Tennessee.

The name gives a nod to the Lone Ranger, a fictionalized masked Texas ranger. Gravesande believes that Morgenthaler’s tightly-curated collection of Lone Ranger ingredients “evoke the spirit of the American West.”

“This has all the flavors and feelings of summer,” Bourgeois continues. “The citrus balances out the agave flavor of the tequila, and it also has sweetness to balance out the acid in the lemon juice. Topping it off with a sparkling rosé is one of my favorite parts of this cocktail. You can’t go wrong with rosé in the summer!”

With Aperol Spritzes and Hugo Spritzes making waves, “the past few summers have been the summer of bubbles, and this trend doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere for summer 2024,” Bourgeois says.

“The Lone Ranger is a timeless classic that keeps delighting, whether you’re in the mood for something more traditional or more unique,” Gravensande says.

Lone Ranger Cocktail Ingredients

As we hinted to earlier, you’ll only need 4 ingredients—as well as a cocktail shaker and a glass—to make a Lone Ranger.

• Tequila: Blanco tequila, also known as silver, “makes perfect sense in this drink,” deBary says. “It fits well with the vibrant, refreshing vibe of the drink. It has a refreshing, vegetal brightness.” Barrel-aged tequilas like añejo or reposado tequila often feel a bit too heavy for summer, he adds, and could overpower the delicate citrus flavor. If you like a hint of smokiness, consider mezcal, Gravensande says.
• Lemon juice: Squeeze the citrus yourself for the best flavor (rather than turning to the lemon juice products sold in supermarkets, which often taste less punchy and more bitter). Only have a lime? That should work just fine.
• Simple syrup: This will lightly sweeten the cocktail. We're including a recipe for our Test Kitchen's preferred rich simple syrup below. It's a higher ratio of sugar to water than some other recipes, but provides the ideal balance of sweetness.
• Sparkling wine: A dry rosé Prosecco is what Gravensande and Bourgeois prefer to add effervescence without being too sweet or overpowering. “I find the bubbles and flavor to be a little more delicate than a Champagne. Dry Prosecco is the perfect selection when supporting a spirit in a cocktail,” Bourgeois believes. No need to invest in anything too pricey, deBary adds. Something in the $15 to $30 per bottle range should serve you well here.

How to Make Rich Simple Syrup

Here's how to make the rich simple syrup we prefer for this cocktail. In a small saucepan, combine 3/4 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water. Bring to boiling, stirring to dissolve sugar. Chill until ready to use. Makes 3/4 cup.