This West Texas Ranch Water is a low-alcohol cocktail that is so refreshing on those hot summer days. It's the perfect combo of tequila, lime, and sparkling water. Sort of like a casual margarita, that's even easier to make.
Well I did it. I jumped on the bandwagon and tried the Ranch Water drink. This fizzy, bubbly, low-alcohol drink really did hit the spot on a hot Texas summer day. And it's so easy to make. Just some pouring and stirring! No cocktail shaker required.
Let's talk about what's to love about the West Texas Ranch Water.
First of all, it's refreshing. It's served over ice, so it's super-cold. It uses Topo-Chico (or other sparkling water, if you can't find Topo-Chico), so it's nice and bubbly and easy to drink.
Second, it's low alcohol. The only alcohol in there is a bit of tequila! This means you can sip on some of these cocktails all afternoon long.
It has lime for brightness. I love cocktails with a touch of citrus. Especially in the summer! It just feels like it brightens up the whole drink.
And it has a salt rim. Love salt with your margaritas? Then add salt to the rim of the Ranch Water. Don't like salt? Leave it out.
Where did this drink come from?
Legend has it that the Ranch Water drink originated in West Texas, out near Marfa and Fort Davis back in the 1960s. Over the years, the popularity has spread, and now there are many spins on the cocktail. For this recipe, we stuck with the basics and the simple three ingredients (four if you count the salt on the rim!)
Ingredients:
- Tequila
- Topo-Chico or sparkling water
- Lime
- Salt (for the rim)
Where do you find Topo-Chico?
If you live in Texas... you can find Topo-Chico anywhere. If you live a bit further away, hopefully you can still locate it at your local grocery store, Target, or Whole Foods. If you can't find it, you can just use some plain sparkling water in your Ranch Water cocktail instead.
What to serve with the drink:
How to make the Ranch Water:
First, salt the rim if desired. I take half a lime, run it around the edge of my glass, then dip in in salt flakes.
Next, fill up a highball or tall glass with ice. This drink is great served really cold to really help you cool off on those hot summer days.
Next, add the tequila to the glass. Fill the rest of the way with Topo-Chico and then add a squeeze of lime and stir all together.
Enjoy!
Texas Ranch Water Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz tequila
- 1 bottle Topo-Chico or other sparkling water
- ½ lime
- salt for the rim
Instructions
- Cut a lime in half, then take a highball or large glass and wet the rim with lime juice. Dip in salt flakes.
- Fill the glass with crushed ice.
- Add the tequila, then top off with the Topo-Chico or sparkling water, until the glass is almost full.
- Squeeze half of the lime into the glass. Stir with a spoon or straw to combine and enjoy.
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