This strawberry ranch water cocktail is super easy to make, full of strawberry flavor, and perfectly refreshing. It’s made using a strawberry-infused tequila, bubbly mineral water, and a spritz of fresh lime.
Recipe testing hundreds of cocktails over the years really gives you a good idea of what works and what doesn’t. It’s a hard job, but someone’s gotta do it. 😜 And this recipe JUST WORKS. It’s not full of frills or fussy, and this is in part thanks to it’s supposed origin story. It is said that cowboys in Texas wanted something both refreshing and with a little bit of a boozy kick to it at the end of a long hard day home on the range. Giddy-up!
Think of it like a tequila soda. Regular ranch water is made using tequila blanco, lime juice, and Topo Chico. This variation is super flavorful, thanks to the strawberry infused tequila. The best part is, if you want to add a little sweetness, you can add in a bit of strawberry simple syrup.
Jump to Recipe💕 why you’ll love this strawberry ranch water recipe
🍓 berry-licious. If you like strawberries, you’ll love this berry-forward cocktail. It’s fruity, floral, and full of fresh strawberry flavor.
🤌 simple & uncomplicated. This straightforward and simple-to-make summer cocktail recipe comes together in a flash. It’s so easy to make that you can whip it up in a matter of minutes.
☀️ summertime classic – ranch water is one of the classic tequila cocktails during the heat of summer, or when you’re craving warmer days. This cocktail works because the sweetness of the strawberries balances well with the tart lime juice. It truly brings the summer vibes!
🛒 ingredients
- strawberry infused tequila – the base of this cocktail is strawberry infused tequila. Once you infuse a batch of tequila using fresh strawberries, it serves as the foundation for this simple and flavorful cocktail. If you don’t have time to infuse your own tequila, you can muddle some strawberries with tequila in a pinch. Check out the recipe card for this variation.
- limes – you’ll need fresh lime juice for this drink. Ranch water is not complex in flavors, so using the freshest ingredients possible is key. Take a look at the tips below for choosing the best limes. If you have limes that are too sour to use in this recipe, save them and whip up some homemade lime salt to rim your glasses with! In a pinch, you can use a high-quality lime juice concentrate.
- Topo Chico – this one is non-negotiable among ranch water purists. Topo Chico is a mineral water that is made in Mexico and it is super popular in the state of Texas, where ranch water is said to originate. I do not recommend using tonic water in place of mineral water though, because the flavor will be very different. You can use seltzer water or club soda as an alternative, though.
- ice – ice is a necessity for this cocktail as well. It is not shaken, but stirred, over ice. Use larger cubes if you want the ice to melt slower, or try making clear ice for a really impressive presentation. I also love freezing fruit in the ice cubes, like with these strawberry ice cubes, to serve as an extra “flavor clue” to guests.
- strawberries – using fresh strawberries as a garnish is an optional extra, but I love to use garnishes as flavor cues for cocktails.
See recipe card for quantities.
🍋 how to choose the best limes
Citrus is tricky because you can’t tell how sour it’s going to be until you slice into it and juice it. Or can you?! Limes are notorious for being unpredictable in flavor, so it’s important to try to choose the best limes from the start. Like lemons and other citrus, limes do not continue to ripen after they are picked. Once you harvest them, they will start to deteriorate.
- weight – if a lime feels relatively heavy for its size, that’s a good indicator that it is full of juice. If it feels lighter, it may be dried out.
- feel – a ripe lime should have a bit of give to it when you gently squeeze it. If it is hard as a rock and almost impossible to squeeze, it’s likely past the prime of lime. The skin should be softer and more supple, not hard and rough like lizard skin. 🦖
- smell – give the lime a sniff! You can even gently scratch the surface (yes, like a scratch and sniff!) and if it smells citrusy, it’s a good sign that it is ripe.
- color – this indicator is tricky, because limes vary in color from green to yellowish green. The one telltale color you want to avoid though is brown. Brown spots are a sign of spoilage. Darker green limes can tend to have more acidity to them. This is because limes actually turn yellowish green as they ripen on the tree!
🍳 instructions
Step 1: As an optional garnish, you can brush some simple syrup on the side of a highball cocktail glass.
Step 2: Press the glass into a dish of homemade lime salt, or margarita salt.
Step 3: Set the glass aside to allow the syrup and lime to adhere.
Step 4: Fill your preferred cocktail glass with ice. For an extra special cocktail, use strawberry ice cubes.
Step 5: Pour in 2 ounces of strawberry infused tequila.
Step 6: Juice 1 lime per cocktail. Add 1 ounce of lime juice to the cocktail glass.
Step 7: Give the mix a stir with a cocktail spoon.
Step 8: Top the tequila-lime mixture with Topo Chico, until the glass is full.
Step 9: Garnish with a strawberry.
Step 10: Serve immediately.
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
This cocktail is perfect for a hot summer night or a warm spring afternoon, for that matter. Here are a few serving variations:
- for a party – serve this cocktail in a pitcher for a party! Add the base of the strawberry tequila and lime juice to the pitcher, then allow each guest to top their drink with mineral water to their preference.
- as a mocktail – you can make a ranch water mocktail if you don’t drink, or if you have friends or family who want to join in the fun without drinking. It’s also a great mocktail for kids!
- garnish – get creative with your garnishes! You can rim the glass with homemade lime salt, strawberry sugar, or a mix of both! I also love adding in strawberry ice cubes as a fun flavor clue for guests! This is called a “flavor echo!” I love to garnish this drink with a dehydrated lime wedge and slice of strawberry.
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
Even though this strawberry ranch water is a simple to make cocktail, it’s possible things can go wonky flavor-wise.
- too sour or bitter – if your cocktail is too sour, chances are your limes were very acidic. Add in 3-5 drops of a homemade saline solution to balance out the acidity. Alternatively, you can add in some more mineral water or simple syrup (or strawberry infused tequila 😜).
- not enough flavor – if your ranch water doesn’t have much flavor, that’s okay! It’s actually supposed to be a mild cocktail. But if you want more flavor, you can add more lime juice or more tequila!
⚖️ scaling tips
- It’s super easy to scale this recipe up for a party! Mix the base of strawberry tequila and lime juice for as many cocktails as you’ll need. You can even pour the mix in a pitcher a few hours in advance. I do not recommend storing lime juice for more than 48 hours, though.
- Add the mineral water to the cocktails just before serving to maintain maximum bubbles!
🔆 top tip
If you don’t have time to make strawberry infused tequila, you can muddle together some strawberries and tequila, then strain the strawberry pulp out of the mixture.
If you have the time, you can muddle the berries and allow them to steep in the tequila for a few hours before you need to make the drinks. Then, strain the pulp out before serving.
♻️ substitutions & variations
♻️ substitutions
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- use a different tequila – instead of using strawberry tequila, you can use a different variety like reposado tequila or añejo tequila. You don’t need to use the best tequila you can find, but I wouldn’t go under $25 for a bottle. If you opt to use a gold tequila or aged tequila like reposado or añejo, the flavor will be much more pronounced.
- citrus – use lemons, oranges, or grapefruit instead of lime for a different citrus twist.
🎛️ variations
Feeling like a rebel?! 😈 Feel free to stray from the recipe card using these variations, or leave me a comment with your own!
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- spicy – add a few slices of jalapeño for a strawberry-jalapeño kick!
- sweet – add in 0.5 – 1 ounce of strawberry simple syrup to sweeten up this cocktail, while also amping up the strawberry flavor!
- skinny margarita – for a cocktail that has more of a “margarita” vibe, add in a splash of orange liqueur. You can use up to an ounce of Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or triple sec!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🧰 tools needed
- cocktail glass – ranch water is traditionally served in a highball glass. You can use any cocktail glass you have with at least a 12 ounce capacity. Of course, if you prefer your drink to be short rather than tall, and therefore stronger, you can use a smaller rocks glass.
- cocktail spoon – a cocktail spoon will help you give things a quick stir in the glass.
🫙 storage tips
Since this cocktail is made with effervescent mineral water, it is best to enjoy it shortly after making it.
These ingredients don’t hold up well to extended storage after you combine them.
💬 q+a
What is ranch water?
Ranch water is a popular tequila-based cocktail that is said to be invented in Texas. Because of this, people sometimes call it Texas ranch water.
What are the flavors of ranch water?
Ranch water contains only three ingredients: tequila blanco, lime juice, and mineral water. Because of this, the ingredients you use greatly impact the flavor. It is a very tequila and lime forward cocktail. You can dilute the flavors by adding more mineral water, though, or by using tequila that is infused, like with this strawberry ranch water variation.
What alcohol works best in ranch water?
Tequila blanco works best, because it’s the lightest in flavor, but I love using infused tequilas as well like this strawberry infused tequila.
Do I need to use Topo Chico for ranch water?
Yes! Topo Chico is usually the one non-negotiable for ranch water, because it’s truly what is associated with the cocktail. In a pinch, you can use another mineral water, but it won’t truly be a ranch water in purist’s eyes.
How do I fix ranch water that is too sour?
If your ranch water is sour, chances are the limes were pretty acidic. Add in some simple syrup to balance things out. You can also add some homemade saline solution to balance out the acidity.
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Strawberry Ranch Water (Summer Tequila Cocktail)
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Equipment
- 1 highball cocktail glass
- 1 cocktail spoon
- 1 straw optional
- 1 pastry brush optional, for brushing glass with simple syrup
Ingredients
- 2 ounces strawberry infused tequila see notes for variations
- 1 ounce lime juice fresh squeezed
- 6 ounces Topo Chico mineral water see notes for variations
- strwaberry simple syrup optional, for rimming glass and/or sweetening cocktail
- homemade lime salt optional, for rimming glass
Instructions
- As an optional garnish, you can rim your glass using a fresh lime wedge and homemade lime salt, or brush it with simple syrup and then press the glass in salt.
- Fill your highball cocktail glass with ice.
- Pour in 2 ounces of strawberry infused tequila.
- Add 1 ounce of lime juice to the cocktail glass.
- Give the mix a stir with a cocktail spoon.
- Top the tequila-lime mixture with Topo Chico, until the glass is full.
- Garnish with a strawberry and dehydrated lime wheel.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- A garnish is a fun extra that takes your presentation to the next level. You can use salt, sugar, or a mix of both! You can even use strawberry ice cubes!
- If you don’t have a batch of strawberry infused tequila ready to use, you can muddle your tequila with 2-3 strawberries per serving. Strain the strawberry pulp out of the tequila before serving.
- You can also use Topo Chico twist of lime for additional lime flavor.
- If you can’t find Topo Chico, try using another mineral water, or you can use seltzer water or club soda.
- Avoid using tonic water.
