Born in Brooklyn

Founded by bartenders.

We are career bartenders and bar owners who have built careers out of crafting the perfect cocktail. We started Social Hour because we believe there is magic in an expertly-made cocktail, and we wanted to bring that out from behind the bar and into the world.

We also believe a canned cocktail shouldn’t mean a compromise in quality and we only wanted to put a cocktail in a can if it could be as good - or better - than ones we make from scratch behind our bars.

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WE WANT TO MAKE CANNED COCKTAILS MORE INTERESTING

In the summer of 2020, after years of planning, tasting, and tweaking, we launched our first 3 cocktails: the Gin & Tonic, Whiskey Mule, and Pacific Spritz (pandemic launch!). We chose the simpler highball-style concept because we believed we could execute it to our high standards. Since then we’ve continued to experiment relentlessly (perhaps obsessively) with the goal of bringing more creativity to canned cocktails, just like you’d find on the menu in our bars. In the summer of 2021 we launched our next 3 cocktails: the Sunkissed Fizz, Strawberry Rhubarb Spritz, and Prizefighter. All of which took inspiration from some of our favorite drinks from previous menus.

We’re committed to continuing to push the envelope and elevate cocktail experiences beyond the bar whenever and wherever the mood strikes. Because the world needs more Social Hours!

Meet Tom and Julie

Julie ReinerWith Julie’s impeccable palette and relentless hustle, it’s no wonder that she has been one of the leading pioneers of New York City’s cocktail culture for the last 20 years. Julie has founded a number of the city’s top bars, including the former Flatiron Lounge, and Pegu Club, as well as Brooklyn’s award-winning cocktail bars, Clover Club and Leyenda. Clover Club in particular has received a slew of accolades including Best New Cocktail Bar at Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards in 2009, and Best American Cocktail Bar and Best High Volume Cocktail Bar in 2013. Clover Club has also been listed on Drinks International’s list of the World’s 50 Best Bars five times.  Tom MacyJulie hired Tom at Clover Club as a barback in 2009 and the two have been making delicious cocktails together ever since.  As Tom worked his way up to bartender, head bartender, and eventually partner, he developed a particular interest in meticulously perfecting classic cocktails, which earned him several awards in Punch’s Ultimate Cocktail Tastings. His recipes and methods are documented on his popular YouTube Channel, Tom Macy Cocktails, as well as his personal website, tommacy.com. The idea for cocktail bar-quality canned cocktails first popped into Tom’s head in 2013 while he was on a quest for the perfect Gin & Tonic recipe, and it has been percolating there ever since.The Social Hour StorySocial Hour is the term Tom’s grandparents used for ‘cocktail hour,’ which remains a fixture at all of his family’s gatherings.  For us, social hour represents what we see as the true value of cocktails: their unique ability to bring people together. Over our years tending and running bars we’ve witnessed this firsthand and it’s what we’ve cherished most.Fun fact: In addition to cocktails, the only other essential component to a proper Macy family social hour are John Wm. Macy’s Cheese Sticks. A product invented, and company still run, by Tom’s father. Unsurprisingly, they are the perfect cocktail snack. Social hour is in our blood!

Julie Reiner

With Julie’s impeccable palate and relentless hustle, it’s no wonder that she has been one of the leading pioneers of New York City’s cocktail culture for the last 20 years. Julie has founded a number of the city’s top bars, including the former Flatiron Lounge, and Pegu Club, as well as Brooklyn’s award-winning cocktail bars, Clover Club and Leyenda. 

Clover Club in particular has received a slew of accolades including Best New Cocktail Bar at Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards in 2009, and Best American Cocktail Bar and Best High Volume Cocktail Bar in 2013. Clover Club has also been listed on Drinks International’s list of the World’s 50 Best Bars five times.  

Tom Macy

Julie hired Tom at Clover Club as a barback in 2009 and the two have been making delicious cocktails together ever since.  As Tom worked his way up to bartender, head bartender, and eventually partner, he developed a particular interest in meticulously perfecting classic cocktails, which earned him several awards in Punch’s Ultimate Cocktail Tastings. His recipes and methods are documented on his popular YouTube Channel, Tom Macy Cocktails, as well as his personal website, tommacy.com. 

The idea for cocktail bar-quality canned cocktails first popped into Tom’s head in 2013 while he was on a quest for the perfect Gin & Tonic recipe, and it has been percolating there ever since.

The Social Hour Story

Social Hour is the term Tom’s grandparents used for ‘cocktail hour,’ which remains a fixture at all of his family’s gatherings.  For us, social hour represents what we see as the true value of cocktails: their unique ability to bring people together. Over our years tending and running bars we’ve witnessed this firsthand and it’s what we’ve cherished most.

Fun fact: In addition to cocktails, the only other essential component to a proper Macy family social hour is John Wm. Macy’s Cheese Sticks. A product invented, and company still run, by Tom’s father. Unsurprisingly, they are the perfect cocktail snack. Social hour is in our blood!