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This refreshing, bubbly, and citrusy tequila cocktail is the perfect quick solution to combat the summer heat. It’s called ranch water, and you only need three ingredients to make it!
My recipe makes a fresh, citrusy, crisp cocktail perfect for hot days spent outdoors. You only need three simple ingredients and a few seconds to make this refreshing drink: tequila, lime juice, and Topo Chico. Yes, that’s it! No complicated muddling, shaking, or straining. Just fill a highball glass with ice, add tequila and lime juice, and top it off with sparkling mineral water like Top Chico.
While the exact origin story is unclear, ranch water supposedly originated in Texas in the 1960s. It’s comparable to a skinny margarita but without any added sweetener. So, if you like your cocktails on the sour end, this recipe is for you! For more tequila cocktail recipes, try my watermelon margaritas recipe, paloma cocktail, and strawberry margarita recipe .
What You Need to Make this Recipe
Blanco tequila — tequila blanco (silver tequila) has a mild, fresh flavor that works well in this cocktail. While you can use an aged tequila or mezcal, I think it detracts from the intended “crispness” of the drink.
Lime juice — fresh lime juice is the best option because the bottled kind loses some of its intensity and can have a preserved taste. And since lime is an important component of this cocktail, you want the best flavor! For a twist, you can swap out the lime for grapefruit juice or use a mixture of both.
Topo Chico — you can also use your favorite sparkling water, club soda, soda water, or other carbonated water instead. However, Topo Chico is considered to be more bubbly and fizzy than other sparkling waters, so take that into account when you’re choosing what kind to use.
How to Make Ranch Water
1. Squeeze fresh limes to get about 1 ounce of juice.
2. Fill a highball glass with ice. You can also use any other type of slender tall glass if you don’t specifically have highball glasses.
3. Add tequila to the cocktail glass.
4. Pour in the freshly squeezed lime juice.
5. Give the mixture a good stir to incorporate the flavors.
6. Top off with Topo Chico (or other sparkling mineral water of choice), garnish with a lime wedge or slice of lime, and enjoy!
Pro Tips for Making this Recipe
- Add agave nectar or simple syrup for a sweeter cocktail. This cocktail is not naturally a sweet drink, so add a little sweetener to taste if you enjoy cocktails on the sweeter side.
- Use tequila blanco (aka silver tequila). Silver tequila has a mild, fresh, citrusy flavor that is heavy on the agave, which works very well in this cocktail.
- Use good ingredients. With such a simple drink recipe, the ingredients you use make all the difference between a good cocktail and the best ranch water recipe you can stir up!
- Use flavored Topo Chico for a twist. A classic Texas ranch water recipe has plain carbonated mineral water, but you can use a flavored kind to switch up the flavor. Topo Chico Twist of Lime is my personal favorite for more puckery citrus flavor.
- Add a few slices of jalapeno for a kick. If you’re a fan of spicy cocktails, muddling a few slices of jalapeno is an excellent way to customize your beverage. You can even add a splash of orange liqueur for a flavor nod to a classic margarita.
Frequently Asked Questions
Definitely pick your favorite tequila blanco (silver tequila) for this recipe. Silver tequila has a fairly mild flavor and is more citrusy than other types of tequila. It also isn’t smoky, which would detract from the fresh flavor that makes ranch water so popular.
Fresh lime juice is my preferred option as I think the flavor is better, but if you like, you can use your favorite bottled lime juice.
Since this tequila cocktail contains sparkling mineral water, it is best made fresh and consumed immediately because sparkling water loses its bubbles pretty fast. It’s so easy to throw together that if you want to serve it to guests, set up a cocktail-making station with all the ingredients and have them make their own! Everyone gets to customize the drink based on personal preference, and no one has to suffer through a flat cocktail. The one step that you can definitely save time on and make ahead is juicing fresh limes, especially if you’re hosting a party.
If you’re feeling fancy and want to add a little something to the rim of the glass, salt or tajin (chile-lime seasoning) are both great options for this cocktail.
If you’ve tried this ranch water recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
Ranch Water
Equipment
- Highball cocktail glass
- Stirrer
Ingredients
- 2 ounces blanco tequila (60ml)
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice (30ml)
- Topo Chico or sparkling mineral water chilled
- Lime wedge
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the tequila and lime juice and stir a few times.
- Top off with Topo Chico and garnish with a lime wedge.
Notes
- Add agave nectar or simple syrup for a sweeter cocktail. This cocktail is not naturally a sweet drink, so add a little sweetener to taste if you enjoy cocktails on the sweeter side.
- Use tequila blanco (aka silver tequila). Silver tequila has a mild, fresh, citrusy flavor that is heavy on the agave, which works very well in this cocktail.
- Use good ingredients. With such a simple drink recipe, the ingredients you use make all the difference between a good cocktail and the best ranch water recipe you can stir up!
- Use flavored Topo Chico for a twist. A classic Texas ranch water recipe has plain carbonated mineral water, but you can use a flavored kind to switch up the flavor. Topo Chico Twist of Lime is my personal favorite for more puckery citrus flavor.
- Add a few slices of jalapeno for a kick. If you’re a fan of spicy cocktails, muddling a few slices of jalapeno is an excellent way to customize your beverage. You can even add a splash of orange liqueur for a flavor nod to a classic margarita.
Nutrition
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