I have a series of cocktail recipes served in our awesome backyard pub, The Grain Shed! Our very first featured cocktail is called Ranch Water. Get ready to sip and savor. Cheers!
Looking to chill out and quench your thirst on a scorching summer day? Look no further than this amazing Texas Ranch Water recipe! It’s a mouthwatering tequila cocktail that will leave you feeling cool and refreshed. Just grab some tequila and lime, and you’re in for a fizzy, fabulous adventure. Get ready to make this your new go-to drink for hot summer fun!
During a long day adding and adjusting cattle fences (does it ever end??), working on our new barn, or getting our next garlic field ready, it is a welcome break to take a moment in our little backyard pub and have a refreshing drink. I am usually a wine drinker, but on these hot days, I do love Ranch Water.
I was introduced to this great cocktail while watching the Colorado-based renovation series Building Roots with husband-and-wife duo Ben and Cristi Dozier. While drinking our Sunday morning coffee and getting ready for our day to begin on our little ranch, Rick and I enjoy watching home renovation shows. This is where I first heard of Ranch Water. If you are like us and enjoy a good renovation show, check theirs out…sorry, I don’t remember which episode had the Ranch Water in it.
Ranch Water – Where did it start?
From what I read, the origin of Ranch water has some different stories. Some say it was created by a wild-haired rancher in Fort Davis, Texas, in the 1960s. Ranch 616 restaurant owner in Austin, Texas, Kevin Williamson, claims to be the first to start using the name and supposedly is in the process of trademarking the name “Ranch Water.” The manager at the Gage Hotels’ White Buffalo Bar in Marathon, Texas, claims that it has had Ranch Water on their bar menu for as long as remembered.
This simple cocktail has only three simple ingredients.
- Tequila – Use your favorite Blanco tequila.
- Fresh Lime Juice – Fresh squeezed, please.
- Topo Chico – Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water has been bottled at the source in Monterrey, Mexico, since 1895. Die-hards say that Topo Chico is only the mineral water that can be used.
To make Ranch Water cocktail.
Use a tall glass, fill it with ice, and add 1.5 to 2 ounces of your favorite tequila, then add the juice of one freshly squeezed lime, top with Topo Chico, and garnish with a slice of lime or two. So easy!
A word of caution: substituting Topo Chico with another sparkling mineral water will raise eyebrows. Your friends and family may start questioning your ability to make a good cocktail if you substitute mineral water, especially if they are from Texas. Topo Chico has become really popular, and you should be able to find it at most grocery stores.
Additions or variations to Ranch Water
Sweetener
Add simple syrup or Agave to taste if you like a sweeter drink. For a low-calorie cocktail, add sugar-free sweetener.
Rimmed Glass
Rim the glass with salt or Tajín Clásico Chile Lime Seasoning for extra flavor.
Jalapenos
For a spicy Ranch Water, add a few slices of jalapenos.
Orange Liquor
Add a 1/2 ounce of your favorite orange liquor to make a Cadillac Ranch Water.
Serve at a party.
Ranch Water is also a great drink to serve at larger gatherings. Mix the tequila and lime juice in a pitcher by the amount of drinks you plan to serve. Mixing tequila and lime juice is a great time-saving technique, so you can join the guests and not spend time squeezing lime juice for individual drinks. When ready to serve, add ice to a glass, 3 to 3.5 ounces of mixture, and top with Topo Chico.
Cool and refreshing. Ranch Water will hit the spot even if you are not on a ranch or working in the hot sun. Try making this popular drink at home, and let me know what you think.
Cheers!!
More Cocktail Recipes You Might Enjoy!
- Homemade Lavender Simple Syrup
- White Lady Cocktail Recipe – A Beautiful Classic Cocktail
- Irish Coffee & How to Make This Famous Drink
- Maple Bourbon Aperol – Great Happy Hour Cocktail Recipe
Most of my cocktail creations are mixed and tested in The Grain Shed, our rustic backyard pub — the heart of our homestead gatherings.
Ranch Water Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1.5 – 2 Ounces Blanco Tequila Use your favorite brand
- 2 Tablespoons Lime Juice Freshly Squeezed
- Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water
Instructions
- Fill tall glass with ice.
- Add 1 1/2 to 2 ounces of Tequila to glass.
- Squeeze the juice of one lime (approximately 2 tablespoons) into glass.
- Top with Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water and stir.
- Garnish with a slice of lime.
Notes
Additions or variations to Ranch Water
Sweetener
Add simple syrup or Agave to taste if you like a sweeter drink. For a low-calorie cocktail, add sugar-free sweetener.Rimmed Glass
Rim the glass with salt or Tajín Clásico Chile Lime Seasoning for extra flavor.Jalapenos
For a spicy Ranch Water, add a few slices of jalapenos.Orange Liquor
Add a 1/2 ounce of your favorite orange liquor to make a Cadillac Ranch Water.Pin & Save for Later!
Hi, I’m Yvonne — the voice behind Our Country Life. I share from-scratch recipes, garden know-how, and simple living inspiration rooted in real farmhouse life. Thanks for being here ❤️
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