How do you make Ranch Water and what even is Ranch Water! All great questions as Ranch Water is taking the country by storm! It is a light & refreshing cocktail, easy to make, tastes great and also is amazing for limiting hangovers.
The Texas Ranch Water recipe is also the most simple cocktail on earth just being three ingredients and takes all of 10 seconds to create.
This amazing tequila cocktail is also so versatile as you can make it your own with multiple variations and flavors!
You can make prickly pear Ranch Water, spicy Ranch Water, strawberry Ranch Water and grapefruit Ranch Water is my personal favorite as I love palomas.
This drink is also arguably healthy with mineral waters and great for a low calorie diet. I only say Ranch Water is “arguably” healthy per some findings that I cover more in the article below.
It is also great for hangovers since it is just a few ingredients with minimal sugars, fake coloring etc. If you swap a drink like this in for something where you typically drink Coke, sugary juices or Sprite etc, well you be much happier the next morning.
What Is Ranch Water?
It is quite simple, just…. tequila, fresh lime juice and Topo Chico sparkling mineral water. You can use any sparkling water or mineral water but for the authentic drink Topo Chico is the original water to use.
Where did Ranch Water Come From
Said to be created by a West Texas rancher in the 1960s and from there has grown to be one of the trendiest drinks around! Topo Chico itself is so popular Coke paid $220 million to buy the US rights back in 2017.
With Ranch Water originating in West Texas and me being Texas Tech alum, this drink jumps to the top of my favorites list even moreso!
What Are The Best Ranch Water Flavors
Ranch Water is so versatile as mentioned and some of the best variations include making a Spicy Ranch Water with jalapenos, or grapefruit, prickly pear and strawberry flavors!
We will cover how to make those flavored ranch waters just as easily and of course use fresh ingredients when possible for the best tasting cocktail.
How do You make Spicy Ranch Water?
Making a spicy Ranch Water is so easy, you just add some muddled jalapenos into the rocks glass and add tajin rim to the glass.
You cut 2-3 coins of jalapenos, remove the seeds, and put them in the bottom of the glass then gently muddle the jalapenos more firmly pressing them to express the juices vs. tear or grind them up.
What Tequila Do You Use For Ranch Water?
Blanco is really what you should use. However, reposado & anejo work as well if you prefer that taste. If you are one of the crazies who enjoys smoky Mezcal then you can of course do that.
Is Topo Chico Healthy Or Good For You?
Yes and no. Yes it is mineral water including sodium, carbonation, calcium, magnesium, potassium and manganese which is said to help with dehydration and indigestion. Magnesium itself has a ton of great properties for the body.
Furthermore, if you are replacing drinks like Coke, other sodas or sugary margarita mixes/syrups with Topo Chico as your cocktail mix, this also is a huge health jump on a myriad of levels.
However, as with anything it might be too good to be true as some major studies found higher levels of PFAS chemicals.
PFAS stand for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and are main made chemicals that have been used since the 1940s and linked to health issues by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Topo Chico however has decreased their PFAS allegedly by 1/3rd and apparently is continuing to cut down the amount to get below the ideal amount in waters.
Conclusion: if you are are concerned about PFAS there are lots of mineral and sparkling water substitutes with “approved” levels of PFAS.
I advise to do your own research and make your own conclusion however I personally will drink Topo Chico in moderation and probably substitute different sparkling waters with better PFAS until Topo Chico gets to a lower PFAS level.
Here is a good article on Topo Chico and PFAS for you but please look at more than just one source as with any study and report.
Best Easy Ranch Water Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila reposado or anejo also work
- 1 lime, squeezed or 1-2 ounces of bottled lime juice
- 4-5 oz Topo Chico or any sparkling water or mineral water
- Lime wedge garnish
Optional
- 2-3 coins seeded jalapenos, gently muddled for spicy option
- 2 oz grapefruit juice or prickly pear syrup or strawberry syrup for a flavor substitution over lime juice
Instructions
- If using jalapenos, take the seeds out, gently express the juices by gently muddling them but do not tear or crush up the jalapeno.
- Fill rocks glass with ice. Add in Tequila, lime juice (or flavor substitution), Topo Chico and very gently stir together as to not lose the carbonation.
- Garnish with lime.
