Texas Ranch Water Recipe

Texas Ranch Water is a refreshing drink similar to a skinny margarita. It's perfect on a hot day because it's not too sweet and has a light taste. This simple cocktail is made with just three ingredients and whips up in just minutes! Great for your next at-home happy hour!

Texas Ranch Water is a popular drink these days and for good reason. It's easy to make and is a refreshing change from its sweeter sister, Margarita.

Living through the heat of a Texas summer means it's necessary to have an ice cold drink at the ready! And that's where this easy ranch water recipe comes to the rescue for porch sitting and sunset watching.

You might also want to try my other favorite drink, the Texas Margarita. I made this one with fresh orange juice. It's made with the same tequila.

Why you'll love this recipe

• Simple drink made with simple ingredients
• Tequila cocktail that's not as sweet as a margarita
• Perfect any time of year, especially on hot summer days

Ingredients

Tequila - Blanco tequila is also known as white tequila or silver tequila. They are your best choices for a Texas Ranch Water cocktail.

Fresh lime juice - freshly squeezed lime juice will have the best flavor, however you can use a bottled lime juice for convenience.

Bottle of Topo Chico - this is a sparkling mineral water made in Mexico. It's easy to find at grocery stores here in Texas, but if you can't get your hands on some then you can sub with soda water or club soda.

If you want a sweeter drink, you can add some simple syrup or some agave nectar. A little bit will do, or adjust to taste.

Salt - salt the rim of the glass if desired.

Fresh lime wedge or a lime wheel for the garnish. 

How to make it

1) Add ice to a highball or rocks glass.

2)Pour tequila then lime juice over the ice. Top with Topo Chico. Give the drink a quick stir with a spoon or straw.

3)Garnish with a lime wedge. Serve immediately.

Tips

• Use the best tequila you can afford for a Texas Ranch Water recipe. Since tequila is the dominant flavor, you want to be sure it's a good one.
• Blanco tequila is used to make the classic ranch water recipe, but an aged tequila like reposada is another option. 
• Use chili lime seasoning or a tajin rim instead of salt. The spicy seasoning complements the drink perfectly.

Variations

You can switch up the classic ranch water different ways:

• Try different types of tequila. Blanco has the most agave forward flavor because it's bottled without age. Reposado and añejo are aged in oak barrels and have oak, vanilla, and spice flavors.
• Add a splash of grapefruit juice, or replace sparkling water with a grapefruit flavored soda like Fresca, Jarritos, Squirt, or Fever Tree sparkling grapefruit.
• Add a splash of orange liqueur such as triple sec, Grand Marnier, or Cointreau.

More Tex Mex recipes you'll love

• Air Fryer Jalapeños
• Oven Baked Blackened Tilapia
• Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
• Creamy Hatch Green Chili Dip

📖 Recipe