A drink called ranch water might not sound very good, nor particularly elevated, but this delicious cocktail combines tequila, lime, and Topo Chico (sparkling mineral water) for a delightfully refreshing beverage packed with subtle flavor.
The ranch water name has nothing to do with the stuff you dip your buffalo wings in; it’s inspired by a Texas rancher who supposedly created the drink in the 1960s. Known as the “unofficial cocktail of West Texas,” ranch water has become popular far beyond the Lone Star State, and with summer heat in full swing, it’s a great option for casual get-togethers and elaborate backyard celebrations alike.
You may see canned, ready-to-drink ranch water cocktails with other trendy hard seltzers at your local grocery store or liquor store, but it’s also super simple to make a ranch water at home.
The beauty of ranch water is that there’s no exact science to perfecting this drink, so feel free to adjust it to your taste preferences. If you want a spicier take, try a Tajín or chile salt rim, or experiment with fruity twists on the drink by using flavored Topo Chico.
Ranch Water Ingredients
The ranch water calls for just three ingredients, plus ice and an optional garnish. To make a ranch water cocktail you only need tequila, lime juice, and sparkling mineral water, all combined and poured over ice.
Most recipes (including ours!) calls for Topo Chico brand water, specifically, but you could technically use any brand of sparkling mineral water. Texas natives will argue that nothing else compares to Topo Chico, though.
Ingredients
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1½ to 2 ounces tequila
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½ ounce lime juice
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4 ounces Topo Chico
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1 lime, cut into wedges (optional)
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Lots of ice
Directions
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Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Add tequila and lime juice, then top it off with your Topo Chico. Add lime wedges for garnish as desired and sip away!
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 132 | Calories |
| 0g | Fat |
| 1g | Carbs |
| 0g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 1 | |
| Calories 132.3 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 6.7mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 1.3g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 0.1g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 0.3g | |
| Protein 0.1g | 0% |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Vitamin C 4.6mg | 5% |
| Calcium 6.6mg | 1% |
| Iron 0mg | 0% |
| Potassium 19.1mg | 0% |
| Fatty acids, total trans 0g | |
| Vitamin D 0IU | |
| Alanine 0g | |
| Arginine 0g | |
| Ash 0.2g | |
| Aspartic acid 0g | |
| Caffeine 0mg | |
| Carotene, alpha 0mcg | |
| Choline, total 0.8mg | |
| Copper, Cu 0mg | |
| Cystine 0g | |
| Energy 553.7kJ | |
| Fluoride, F 104.5mcg | |
| Folate, total 1.5mcg | |
| Glutamic acid 0g | |
| Glycine 0g | |
| Histidine 0g | |
| Isoleucine 0g | |
| Leucine 0g | |
| Lysine 0g | |
| Methionine 0g | |
| Magnesium, Mg 2.7mg | |
| Manganese, Mn 0mg | |
| Niacin 0mg | |
| Phosphorus, P 4.4mg | |
| Pantothenic acid 0mg | |
| Phenylalanine 0g | |
| Proline 0g | |
| Retinol 0mcg | |
| Selenium, Se 0mcg | |
| Serine 0g | |
| Starch 0g | |
| Theobromine 0mg | |
| Threonine 0g | |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 0mg | |
| Tryptophan 0g | |
| Tyrosine 0g | |
| Valine 0g | |
| Vitamin A, IU 7.7IU | |
| Vitamin A, RAE 0.3mcg | |
| Vitamin B-12 0mcg | |
| Vitamin B-6 0mg | |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 0.1mcg | |
| Water 197.6g | |
| Zinc, Zn 0mg | |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.