Hello, I’m Rachel D’Acquisto, the owner and creator of Ray Ray’s Sonoran Spirit Tea. I’ve always been passionate about drinks, how they’re made, how they taste, and how they make people feel. Over the years, I’ve learned every part of the process, from experimenting behind the bar to refining recipes and building something worth sharing.
Ray Ray’s grew out of that love for creating beverages that feel intentional, refreshing, and a little different. I’m so glad you’re here, and I’m excited to welcome you into the story behind the tea, the flavors, and the journey that brought Ray Ray’s to life.
Our Story
Born in Tucson, Arizona in 2021, Ray Ray’s Sonoran Spirit Tea started the way the best ideas usually do behind a bar, mid shift, with a drink people kept asking for again and again. What began as a signature pour quietly turned into something bigger. Not a beer. Not a seltzer. Not your average hard tea. Something with its own rhythm.
Ray Ray’s comes from a lifelong hospitality lifer, shaped by years spent in restaurants, hotels, resorts, and beverage programs. Early on it was just “Ray,” but somewhere along the line, among long nights and tight crews, the name “Ray Ray” stuck. It became shorthand for community, trust, and the kind of craft that only comes from doing the work. That same energy carries through the brand today.
There was no big investor, no polished pitch deck, and no clear roadmap. Ray Ray’s got its start through StartUp Tucson, a local business incubator that connected the brand with mentors, resources, and just enough momentum to move forward. A key influence was Steve Tracey, a local brewery and distillery owner who helped guide recipe development and early production. With a handful of small grants and a lot of hustle, Ray Ray’s hit the market in kegs only, building demand one pour at a time before raising money for cans and stepping into formal distribution.
At its core, Ray Ray’s Sonoran Spirit Tea is lived experience in liquid form. Built on a foundation of hospitality, sommelier training, business development, sales, and product innovation, the brand is a celebration of hard earned skills, personal milestones, and relationships forged along the way. It was never meant to chase trends or blend in. It was built to stand apart.
“Sonoran” isn’t branding fluff. It’s a sense of place. The heat, the landscape, the ingredients, and the flavors that define the Sonoran Desert. Organic agave. Hibiscus. Prickly pear. Bright citrus. Every can is designed to feel light, refreshing, and clean, offering a noticeably different experience from mass market hard teas and seltzers.
Ray Ray’s keeps things simple and intentional. Short ingredient lists. Thoughtful sourcing. Just a touch of organic agave and natural fruit to let the tea shine. The result is a craft hard tea that tastes better, feels better, and supports the local Arizona economy. It’s made for seasoned craft drinkers, casual sippers, backyard hangs, and desert sunsets alike. Inclusive, approachable, and unapologetically high quality.
This is Arizona in a can. No shortcuts. No noise. Just good tea, good spirits, and a story worth sharing.
Ray Ray’s Sonoran “Original” Tea
Ingredients & Flavor Profile
• Black tea
• Lightly caffeinated (about 1/4 cup of coffee caffeine equivalent)
• Hibiscus tea
• Organic agave sweetener
• Citrus
• Low ABV distilled spirit vodka
• 4.7% ABV
• Gluten free
• Natural lemon and watermelon extract
• Quality product that supports our local economy
Ray Ray’s Sonoran Prickly Pear Tea
Ingredients & Flavor Profile
• Prickly Pear
• Black tea
• Lightly caffeinated (about 1/4 cup of coffee caffeine equivalent)
• Organic agave sweetener
• Citrus
• Low ABV distilled spirit vodka
• 4.7% ABV
• Gluten free
• Natural lemon and watermelon extract
• Quality product that supports our local economy
Ray Ray’s Sonoran Tamarind Spice Tea
Ingredients & Flavor Profile
• Reduced Tamarind, Cinnamon, Allspice, Clove
• Black tea
• Lightly caffeinated (about 1/4 cup of coffee caffeine equivalent)
• Organic agave sweetener
• Citrus
• Tamarind Spice
• Low ABV distilled spirit vodka
• 4.7% ABV
• Gluten free
• Natural lemon and watermelon extract
• Quality product that supports our local economy
Ray Ray’s Sonoran Citrus Green Tea
Ingredients & Flavor Profile
• Reduced whole Mexican Sweet Limes
Grapefruit, Orange and Lemon
• Black tea
• Lightly caffeinated (about 1/4 cup of coffee caffeine equivalent)
• Organic agave sweetener
• Citrus
• Green Tea
• Low ABV distilled spirit vodka
• 4.7% ABV
• Gluten free
• Natural lemon and watermelon extract
• Quality product that supports our local economy