Living in Texas, we turn to our Texas Ranch Water Recipe all the time for hot summer days.
The original recipe is such a simple drink, and is very close to a skinny margarita sans any added sugar.
This refreshing drink in its original form is just a three-ingredient cocktail in a tall glass that includes sparkling water (usually sparkling mineral water), tequila, and lime.
They call the classic ranch water cocktail the unofficial drink of west Texas, but really it could be the cocktail of all of Texas.
It’s essentially a classic margarita but you take out the simple syrup and add in club soda or mineral water, so it’s lighter and bubblier than the original margarita.
Talk about refreshing!
3 Incredible Variations on a Ranch Water
Here are three ways to elevate a traditional ranch water cocktail:
- Zested Rim: Add some fresh zested lime with margarita salt to salt the rim. It’s an amazing burst of flavor.
- Citrus Substitution: Swap up the fresh lime juice for grapefruit! You’ll create a lower calorie version of a paloma! Consider swapping out the lime for orange or blood orange as well!
- Make it Spicy: Add in sliced jalapenos for a spicy kick. Leave the seeds in if you want it extra spicy!
Equipment for the Best Ranch Water Cocktails
Add these items to your home bar for craft ranch water cocktails at home.
- Microplane – in order to achieve the lime zest rim, use a microplane grater to easily zest your citrus.
- Lime Juicer – Fresh lime juice is essential for a perfect ranch water, this squeezable lime juicer helps to get the most juice from the lime with minimal effort.
- Hand Juicer – While we usually use a lime juicer for our traditional ranch water cocktails, it helps to also have a hand juicer if you’re swapping out lime for fresh grapefruit or orange juice.
- Margarita Salt – There is a reason why tequila is usually served with salt and a lime. The flavors are a perfect combination for mellowing out the liquor. Although not required, we love to add salt to the rim of our cocktail glass from this cute salt rimmer set.
Best Tequila for Tequila Ranch Water
You can technically use a blanco, reposado, or an añejo (aged tequila) tequila.
Do whatever your taste buds prefer, but the blanco being a clear tequila makes the cocktail look more like “water”.
Tequila Cazadores is our blanco tequila (AKA silver tequila) of choice.
Is Ranch Water Gluten Free?
Yes, all of the ingredients in ranch water are typically naturally gluten-free, so unless you change up the recipe it should always be gluten free.
Best Vodka for Vodka Ranch Water
Let’s be straight, a vodka ranch water is just a vodka soda with lime, but if tequila isn’t your spirit of choice, here are some recommendations:
- Tito’s and Deep Eddy Vodka are our go-to for Texas based vodkas
- Grey Goose vodka is a classic premium vodka
- Smirnoff is a high quality affordable vodka
The Best Ranch Water Recipe (+ 3 Variations!)
Prep Time: 2 Minutes
Yield: 1 cocktail
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of your favorite tequila
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 8-10 ounces Sparkling mineral bubbly water (in Texas Topo Chico is the main pick)
- Crushed ice
- Optional Variations:
- Spicy Ranch Water Recipe: Add jalapeno slices
- Grapefruit Ranch Water Recipe: Substitute the lime with grapefruit juice
- Zested Ranch Water: Add salt and fresh lime zest to the rim.
Directions:
- Grab a 12-ounce highball glass and add salt or sugar to the rim of the glass (we also love adding lime or grapefruit zest).
- Add a handful of ice cubes to the cocktail glass.
- Then add fresh lime juice and your choice of tequila
- Finish with your favorite soda water on top, and give it a stir
- Enjoy this simple cocktail with simple ingredients by yourself or with friends!
The Best Ranch Water Recipe (3 Variations!)
Don't miss these three super easy twists to elevate our classic Texas ranch water recipe! It's such a refreshing cocktail!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of your favorite tequila
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 8-10 ounces Sparkling mineral bubbly water (in Texas Topo Chico is the main pick)
- Crushed ice
Optional Variations
- Zested Ranch Water: Add salt and fresh lime zest to the rim.
- Grapefruit Ranch Water Recipe: Substitute the lime with grapefruit juice
- Spicy Ranch Water Recipe: Add jalapeno slices
Instructions
- Grab a 12-ounce highball glass and add salt or sugar to the rim of the glass (we also love adding lime or grapefruit zest).
- Add a handful of ice cubes to the cocktail glass.
- Then add fresh lime juice and your choice of tequila
- Finish with your favorite soda water on top, and give it a stir
- Enjoy this simple cocktail with simple ingredients by yourself or with friends!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
Large Manual Citrus Press Juicer and Lime Squeezer Stainless Steel -
Small Citrus Juicer, Extractor Manual Hand with Handle and Pour Spout, BPA Free and Lead-Free Heavyweight Crystal Clear Glass -
MIXOLAB - Margarita Salt Rimmer & Tajin Rimmer. Sleek Acacia Wood Rimmer for Drinks -
Microplane Master Series Wood Handle Stainless Steel Zester Grater
We promise this 3-ingredient cocktail Texas ranch water drink will easily be one of your new favorite summer cocktails.
It’s such a popular drink in Texas they’re even canning it, and selling it in grocery stores because the odds of it being a hot day in Texas is always high.
We hope you enjoy the different ways of making this Texas classic ranch water recipe, and when sipping on it let us know if you’re feeling like a Texas rancher.
If you like this cocktail recipe check out some of our other favorites:
- The best summer Irish Lemonade
- Sugar-free skinny margarita
- Margarita jello shots
- Smoked Old Fashioned
- Peanut Butter Whiskey Cocktail
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