American · Cocktail
Ranch Water
Ranch water is tequila, sparkling mineral water and lime, and that's the whole drink. Two ounces of blanco, a squeeze of lime, and a cold bottle of mineral water poured over the top.
Photo: Engin Akyurt / Pexels
Ingredients
- 2 oz Espolon Blanco Tequila
- 5 oz Topo Chico mineral water
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- Lime wedge, to garnish
Method
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Pour in the tequila and the lime juice.
- Top with cold mineral water. Do not stir more than once.
- Squeeze a lime wedge over the top and drop it in.
The one thing that matters
Don't stir it more than once. Don't add anything else. People try to improve this drink constantly and every addition makes it worse.
About this drink
It comes from West Texas, it's built in the glass, and it's the lightest way to drink good tequila in the heat. There's no sugar in it at all, which is why it's the one people order when they intend to still be standing at the end of the afternoon.
Because there are only three things in it, the tequila has nowhere to hide. Use one that says 100% agave on the label. A mixto in a ranch water tastes exactly like what it is.
Mineral water rather than club soda, if you can. It's harder and more mineral, and it holds its bubbles longer against ice. Topo Chico is the traditional choice and there's a reason it became one.
It goes with tacos, ceviche, grilled fish, or a bag of chips at four in the afternoon. It's the most refreshing thing in this shop and it takes about fifteen seconds.
