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
- Squeeze fresh limes to get about 1 ounce of juice.
- 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.
- Add tequila to the cocktail glass.
- Pour in the freshly squeezed lime juice.
- Give the mixture a good stir to incorporate the flavors.
- 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.
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!
