Classic cocktail · Guided recipe

Ranch Water

West Texas simplicity: tequila and lime lengthened with sparkling mineral water. Bone-dry and endlessly drinkable.

Preparation~2 minSuper easyStrengthLightabout 11% ABVMethodBuilt in glass6 guided stepsIngredients3Tall (highball) glass

Highball

In the glassTequila (blanco) · Fresh lime juice · Soda water

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Make it with guidanceOne clear action at a time, with timers built in.

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What goes in

Ingredients

An empty clear highball glass with tall straight sides and a substantial base. — Serving glassHighball glass

Set up before you pour

Use a highball glass.

The tall, straight shape leaves room for plenty of ice and mixer while keeping a long drink lively.

Standard size: 350 ml11¾ oz
Ice & serve: Fill it with fresh ice cubes.
If you don’t own one: Use a Collins glass or any tall, straight-sided tumbler.

Tools to set out

jigger or measuring spoon

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Scale to your tall (highball) glassWe’ll remember this glass size.

Tequila (blanco)45 ml
Soda water90 ml
Fresh lime juice22 ml

Start making

From bottle to glass

Method

01
Ice the glass
Fill the glass with ice
02
Measure and pour
Pour 45 ml tequila
- Tequila (blanco)
03
Measure and pour
Add 22 ml fresh lime juice
- Fresh lime juice
04
Top gently
Top with 90 ml soda water
- Soda water
05
Stir around the ice
Stir gently to combine
06
Finish the drink
Finish it — add a lime wedge

Know your drink

About the Ranch Water

A salt-rimmed Margarita, coral Paloma and mezcal rocks drink on an agave terrace.

Out in the Trans-Pecos

Nothing about this one has a clean claim behind it. Bars and ranch kitchens out around Fort Davis and Marfa were mixing tequila and lime into mineral water long before anybody wrote it down, and several people have since said the idea was theirs. What is not disputed is the shape of it: a tequila highball with no sweetener anywhere, which in a state that drinks a lot of margaritas is close to a statement of principle.

Tequila choice matters more here than in a margarita, where orange liqueur covers a multitude of sins. Blanco, one hundred percent agave, and check the label for that phrase: anything sold as gold or mixto is legally allowed up to 49 percent cane sugar, usually with caramel color to match, and it lands right in the middle of the drink. Half a lime squeezed in by hand, and leave the spent shell in the glass.

Common questions

Ranch Water FAQ

Does Ranch Water have to be made with Topo Chico?

Tradition says yes — the aggressive carbonation of Topo Chico mineral water is half the drink’s character. Any hard-bubbled sparkling mineral water works. It’s also one of the lightest cocktails there is: no sugar, just tequila, lime and fizz.

What ingredients are in a Ranch Water?

A classic Ranch Water calls for 45 ml (1.5 oz) Tequila, 22 ml (0.75 oz) Fresh lime juice, 90 ml (3 oz) Soda water. That single-serve spec scales cleanly — the recipe above converts it to oz and multiplies it for 2–4 drinks.

How strong is a Ranch Water?

A standard Ranch Water is roughly 11% ABV once mixed (before ice melt softens it further). That makes it a relatively light, sessionable drink — similar in strength to a beer.

Is a Ranch Water shaken or stirred?

A Ranch Water is built directly in the glass over ice — no shaker required. Add the ingredients in order and give it a brief, gentle stir.

What glass do you serve a Ranch Water in?

Serve a Ranch Water in a highball (tall) glass, over fresh ice cubes.

How many calories are in a Ranch Water?

One Ranch Water has approximately 100 calories, estimated from the standard spec above. Bigger pours, extra syrup or sweetened mixers raise that number quickly.

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