For countless Hoosiers, summer and the State Fair go hand in hand. At the fair, elephant ears, corndogs, and lemon shakeups aren’t just treats but beloved traditions. Just the thought of these iconic fair foods stirs up vivid childhood memories for many people. Now, one company has discovered a way to capture that nostalgia in a can.
Shake Up, previously known as Hi & Mighty Distillery, was founded in 2022 by husband-and-wife duo Dan and Jamie Fahrner. After spending 15 years in brand marketing, Dan felt a persistent pull from the universe nudging him toward a different path.
“A few years ago, I started getting interested in the idea of creating a brand of my own, something my wife and I could work on together,” Fahrner says. “We’ve always been into cocktails (kind of cocktail nerds, honestly), so we naturally found ourselves drawn to the spirits world.”
Inspired by their extensive travels around the world, the idea of opening a distillery began to take shape, and Hi & Mighty was born. Soon after launch, Nick Traeger joined the team, bringing with him culinary and mixology expertise along with a fresh perspective on flavor development.
With this vision in mind, the team set out to open shop. They soon found a home at a place familiar to so many around the state: the Indianapolis Fairgrounds.
It was a fitting choice, given the Fahrner family’s strong ties to the long-standing traditions of the state and county fairs.
“One of those early products, now our flagship, is called the Lemon Shake-Up. It’s a cocktail made with real lemon, cane sugar and gin,” Fahrner says. “It’s inspired by the classic lemon shake-ups you’d get at county or state fairs.”
Part of why they aligned with the State Fair was due to proximity, but there’s also a personal connection: Jamie grew up selling barbecue with her dad at county fairs. So that fair and festival culture has been in their DNA from the start.
In March 2025, the decision was made to rebrand, and the company became Shake Up. Building on the success of the Lemon Shake-Up canned cocktail, the company launched several bold new flavors. It now offers a Peach Shake Up, Cherry Shake Up, Iced Tea and Lemon Shake Up, and Blueberry Shake Up. Whatever the preference, there’s a flavor for everyone.
In addition to the canned cocktails, Shake Up also sells bottles of the gin used to make the drinks. Two different styles are available: Big Fuss, a dry savory gin, and Big Heart, a wild floral gin.
These products can be found at liquor stores and supermarkets across Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.
Looking toward the future, the team at Shake Up wants to expand operations to other states and continue growing the brand.
“At this point, the goal for the business is less about a specific place and more about the product,” Fahrner says. “We now have the ability to scale and grow both regionally and nationally. Our main focus is on building strong brand recognition here in the Midwest. That’s where people are most familiar with the lemon shake-up, whether it’s the flavor, the concept, or just the nostalgia tied to it. Indiana will always be home, and it’ll likely remain our biggest market because of our deep roots here. But we’re definitely looking to expand, reaching new audiences in places like Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota and beyond. We want to connect with people who grew up enjoying lemon shake-ups and introduce the product to those who haven’t had the chance yet. That’s really the heart of our vision moving forward.”
Summer holds a special place in the hearts of many; school’s out, and the season of fun begins. For generations of Hoosiers, the Indiana State Fair has been a cherished part of that summer tradition, often marking the final celebration before the school year returns. The memories of those hot August days are almost always tied to one thing: food. It’s the food that sets the fair apart, and it continues to be a hotbed of culinary innovation. Where else can you find a bacon-wrapped Twinkie alongside a glazed donut cheeseburger?
While everyone has their personal favorites, one treat stands above the rest as a fairground essential: the Lemon Shake-Up.
The team at Shake Up has captured the spirit of summer by blending nostalgic charm with bold, citrusy brightness to create their signature canned cocktails. The flagship Lemon Shake-Up, along with a lineup of other crave-worthy flavors, offers a cool, refreshing way to sip through the heat in style.
For more information, visit their website at drinkshakeup.com or follow them on social media.
