Ranch Water
ClassicTequila, lime, and mineral water. West Texas in a glass.
Bone-dry and effervescent, with clean agave from the tequila and a bright snap of lime. The mineral water keeps it crisp and weightless — refreshing, barely sweet, and endlessly drinkable in the heat.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Blanco Tequila
- 0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 4 oz Soda Water
- Lime wedge · optional garnish
Method
- 1
Fill a highball glass with ice.
- 2
Add the blanco tequila and fresh lime juice.
- 3
Top with sparkling mineral water and stir gently.
- 4
Garnish with a lime wedge.
The Story
Ranch Water rose out of far West Texas, where the standard build is a bottle of ice-cold Topo Chico with a shot of tequila and a squeeze of lime poured straight in. Its origins are folklore — variously credited to Fort Davis ranchers and Marfa bartenders — but the drink went national in the 2020s as the low-calorie, low-fuss antidote to the sugary margarita. It is less a cocktail than a way of life.
Recipe card
The whole recipe in one shareable image.
