Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman, blanco tequila, such as Espolon or Casamigos (about 2 shots). It wasn't until I began blog research that I discovered it! Keep those bubbles on hand to refresh your drink when you need it. Often, the tequila and lime are added directly to the long-necked mineral water bottle. The seltzer brand, which has roots in Mexico and has long been popular in Texas, is a highly carbonated option. As you drink down the drink, you keep topping it off with the Topo Chico, so the drink evolves as you drink it, he says. We add lime to it as well, but extra lime flavor is welcomed! Topping it off with a fun bendy straw. A few tequila brands that we recommend are: Are you a tequila fan? Vodka may never wear the royal crown when it comes to celebrated spirits. My husband and I loved this! Well, it's easy, delicious, and lighter on calories than other alcoholic options out there. How to Make Delicious and Easy Monkey Bread. Tequila and Topo Chico are Ranch Water's key ingredients. Perfect for my tequila-loving friends. Alex calls it "the easiest thing in the world" and she's not wrong. A TRUE Texan knows whats Good! The third ingredient is a lime. And also far from the oldest.Topo chico is sparkling mineral water thats been in production since the 1800s!Made in Mexico, this bottled delight was first created in 1895 but has flown under the radar in the U.S. until recent years. Always taste test and alter the recipe to your liking. Ingredients. So what is Ranch Water? Fill glass with ice. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious recipes, cocktails, desserts, and parties! Fresh fruit and herbs can give the basic Ranch Water a huge flavor lift. But that's just fine, as the relatively neutral distillate tends to do better as a mixer than a standalone drink. 1. In South Texas and even in Mexico on the Boarder its called a Carreta made exactly like you posted -just had never heard it by ranch water name. "There's really not hard details," Byran told The Post. Simple enough, right? Let it be known -- not all sparkling waters were created equal, and a Ranch Water Cocktail must be made with Topo Chico. Used good umbrellas which don't work so well if it's also super windy which can happen. As a total aside I spent my youthful summers sailing out of Salem and Marblehead harbors. "A bunch of people out here refer to it as the Ranch Water because cowboys are out there working hard all day, and they want good water, but they want it a little bit spiked," Bryan told The Washington Post in 2021 as Ranch Water's popularity was spreading wildly around the country. Ranch Water is a delicious lighter, lower calorie tequila and Topo Chico cocktail. My hubby and I love this recipe! This is easily one of the best summer cocktails, simple, effective, and delicious. Hey there, Im Elise! Home Recipes Dishes & Beverages Beverages Cocktail. Next, let's chat up its versatility. Ranch Water is easy to make with simple and readily available ingredients. The bubbles are crisp and (somehow) there seems to be way more of them in a bottle of Topo when compared to other sparkling waters. Theres no shortage of options when it comes to tequila cocktails. Pour lime juice and tequila into a glass filled with ice. Its made to be tinkered with. In its basic form, the Ranch Water recipe is incredibly simple. Total Time: 1 minute min. It should be available in most typical groceries. Espolon, Casamigos, Herradura, and Patron are all good options. Shake and strain into a Collins glass full of ice and top off with Topo Chico. I dont drink alcohol, but I always like making mocktails. PunchDrink.com suggests Ranch Waters were first made by a rancher in the '60s, and gradually became more and more popular by word of mouth. Add a splash of fresh orange juice, grapefruit juice, or pineapple juice. The good thing about tequila is that it only has about 69 caloriesper ounce and no carbohydrates. Ree first learned about her new favorite grown-up beverage during her journey to .css-1c1h30u{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#12837c;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-1c1h30u:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}lose weight and get healthier. Except drink. So if youre not counting calories, NDstreetBAR's beverage director Matty Carrolls recipe adds a dash of agave syrup to enhance the naturally sweeter notes of the tequila. Its light and full of finesse, exactly what youre after with this particular cocktail. This pretty pomegranate version of classic Texas Ranch Water is a fruity, tangy drink for tailgates, backyard gatherings, and just weeknight meals. Blanco tequila is a relatively easy spirit to infuse with flavors you love. If you are making your cocktail in a short glass, you'll want to juice half of a lime. Because it was a word-of-mouth cocktail for so long, its more about vibe than precise quantities. ), and enough Topo Chico to top your glass. According to Ree, Topo Chico in a glass bottle is a must! No problem. You can make it with other brands of sparkling water, but Topo Chico seals the deal for us. It hits the spot every time! You could make this drink with any sparkling water, but I did use Topo Chico. Ranch water is a Texas-style tequila highball cocktail made with lime and Topo Chico! I dont like sweet drinks at all so this was perfect. Pour in 3 oz silver tequila, 1.5 oz fresh squeezed lime juice and then top with about 4 oz Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. One of our dearest friends, a native Texan, suggested we try this drink. Sorry you didnt enjoy it! Like yours spicy? When she is not coming up with the next great dish for ThePioneerWoman.com, you can find her at the farmers' market or making pizza for friends. Just keep in mind the ratio of two parts tequila and one part fresh lime juice as your general guideline. Plus, many Texans dont consider it a proper ranch water recipe unless the cocktail is made with Topo Chico. Ranch Water is a summer cocktail thats perfect to serve at a: If you love this ranch water recipe, check out some of these delicious cocktail recipes! . . Fresh lime juice is always best, but if going for store-bought, look for cold-pressed lime juice. Cheers! As Editor, Caroline writes and edits all things food-related and helps produce videos for Taste of Home. Read more! Step 2 If youve never heard of ranch water, that likely means you havent spent much time in West Texas. (1 oz.) Ill need to serve this at my next backyard BBQ! ", Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Props Stylist: Christina Brockman. Ranch water isn't that sophisticated a cocktail, so you can choose a mid-range tequila, such as a tequila blanco ('new' or un-aged tequila) or tequila reposado (aged). In a nutshell -- it's sparkling water magic in a bottle. Its surprisingly simple to make a cocktail that features just three ingredients. Stir in a splash of tart grapefruit juice for an extra citrus punch, or try using a flavored mineral water like Top Chico's Twist of Lime or Twist of Grapefruit flavors. 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. It was a word-of-mouth drink until around 2010, when bartenders in Texas started adding it to their menus. Directions. Alex's final suggestion? As Alan says, hold on to the extra mineral water with this recipe and serve whats left in the bottle with the cocktail. Since then the cocktail has risen in popularity, with bartenders around the country serving up variations. Seared Ahi Tuna Tacos & Cabbage-Carrot Slaw. Ranch Water Recipe. The last thing you want is a ranch water that tastes vaguely of corn dogs or sweet potato fries. lots of lime juice. And, it's for this reason, the Ranch Water is officially the unofficial cocktail of Texas. Pour Topo Chico into a glass, add about an ounce of lime juice or more if you want and a 1.5 oz shot of tequila and stir. The bad comments you received must have come from people in New Yuuk city. But the Topo Chico is a non-negotiable here. Frankie Sciuto, owner of San Diegos Side Bar brings the heat in his interpretation with a cajun rim and muddled peppers. Instructions. In SoCal, where Topo Chico is particularly popular, Ranch Waters are a tradition. To make this Ranch Water seltzer, youll need the ingredients below. Pour a thin layer a Tajin seasoning or chili lime seasoning onto a small plate. What glassware should you use for ranch water? Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. We also provide some helpful tips and tricks for your house. So, in case you want your Ranch Water recipe kicked up a notch, we asked six bartenders to offer their go-to twist. Ingredients & Substitutions The drink itself is simple and consists of tequila, fresh lime juice, and Topo Chico, a brand of sparkling mineral water that is particularly popular in Texas. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Why is it called Ranch Water and where did it originate? Ranch water is a refreshing, 3-ingredient low calorie cocktail created in West Texas. I've had it served with no salt on the rim, a heavy duty half salted rim, and a tajin rim. This drinks tastes like absolute garbage. Could be substituted for mezcal for a smokier taste. And although the drink itself is unfussy as can be, the name is obscure enough to confuse the uninitiated. Similar to a mojito, but with tequila instead ofYou can expect the crisp and refreshing taste of sparkling Topo Chico, topped with the fresh taste of lime, and finished with that kick of tequila. Youre daily dose of sugar and charm. Kiss imPRESS Nails, the best at-home manicure. Instructions Step 1 Fill a highball glass about two-thirds full with ice. When I was growing up in Central Texas we used to make this same drink but with crushed ice and it was dubbed border buttermilk as the crushed ice made the cloudy color look like buttermilk. With its lively bubbles, Topo Chico is required to keep ranch water true to its West Texas roots. Or is unflavored Topo Chico better? For a spicier cocktail, lightly muddle pepper slices. I lived in Texas for 3 years & remember hearing about this drink often! Topo Chico Ranch Water is a crisp and refreshing low carb seltzer inspired by the Texas cocktail and made with 100% agave for sweetness and real lime juice. This light cocktail is perfect for year-round, but at its peak during the Summer! Simple and delicious; its the perfect summer sipper. He says. "It's been such a popular drink for such a long time that everything gets a little fuzzy. Add ice and stir until cold. Add the zest of six limes and six grapefruits into a bottle of Blanco tequila. 2023 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Isaac Ortega, Food and Beverage Manager at the Grand Solmar restaurant at Lands End Resort and Spa in Los Cabos, subs out lime for rosemary and adds a bit of grapefruit for some pungency. While legend credits the drinks invention to a West Texas rancher in the 1960s, the title Ranch Water was concocted at the White Buffalo Bar at the Gage Hotel in Marathon, Texas in 2010. Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. It is pretty much a tequila-soda with lime. Consisting of only three simple ingredients, it's both easy to whip up and so very fun to sip on. Ranch Water is a crisp, refreshing drink made with tequila, lime juice, and Topo Chico. For a laid-back presentation, Carroll also suggests serving the drink in a Topo Chico bottle. Muddle one jalapeo in the bottom of your glass prior to adding additional ingredients. Add the tequila then lime juice to the Topo Chico bottle. There are as many variations on Ranch Water as there are fans of the refreshing, easy cocktail. Ranch Water cocktails typically have only 3 ingredients: While traditionalists wont let you change up the three integral ingredients, they ~could~ be. Made with tequila, lime and Topo Chico, this three ingredient fizzy drink is sure to become a favorite. Make sure your ice is fresh, as in, hasnt been sitting in your freezer for more than a few days. Agua prepararda has lots of tajin and no tequila so its a completely different drink. I found Espolon Reposado was a good choice for the Tequila. When that happens, youd be wise to have some Ranch Water on hand for you and yours. Great. Easy to make, too, so thats a bonus! To make a Ranch Water you need only three ingredients! Fresh limes are a MUST have. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), everything you need to know about margaritas, We Tried a KitchenAid Pasta PressAnd Its the Gadget of Our Italian Dreams, Make Frozen Cocktails in Minutes with the Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker (Its Over 50% Off! The Ranch Water is a three-ingredient, thirst-quenching, Texas tequila cocktail perfect for hot summer days!