This Ranch Water cocktail is the epitome of refreshment. With just tequila, lime, and sparkling water, it's perfect for cooling down on a hot day or unwinding in the evening.

Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the 
recipe card at the bottom of the post. 
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.

I'm a huge fan of light and refreshing cocktails, especially when soaking up the sunny weather. And let me tell you, summers in North Carolina can really turn up the heat.

That's precisely when this Ranch Water cocktail becomes a game-changer. It's incredibly simple, with just three key ingredients: tequila, lime juice, and sparkling mineral water. For a little extra zing, add a dash of salt or Tajín on the rim.

While this cocktail hails from West Texas, where it's a staple for beating the heat, it's quickly become my go-to drink here in my state. If you're a fan of refreshing tequila cocktails, try out my paloma recipe.

A Quick Look at the Ingredients and Tools

• Tequila - you can use blanco tequila or reposado for this recipe, but I enjoy making this with blanco.
• Fresh lime juice - I prefer to use fresh lime juice, but
• Sparkling water - any brand works, but Topo Chico is used most often and gives the drink great fizz

Tools Needed

• Highball or Collins glass
• Jigger (or measuring tool)
• Spoon (for stirring)

How to Make This Cocktail Recipe in 4 Easy Steps

Chill Your Glass: Start by chilling a highball or Collins glass to keep your cocktail cool and refreshing. It'll be fine if you skip this step; it's just great for those extra hot days.

Mix the Base: Fill the glass with ice, pour in the tequila, and add fresh lime juice.

Top It Off: Gently top with sparkling water, ideally Topo Chico.

Garnish and Serve: Garnish with a lime wedge, stir gently, and serve immediately to capture the best flavors.

How to Batch Ranch Water for a Party

For a party-friendly batch of Ranch Water, mix tequila and lime juice in a large pitcher and keep it chilled. Set up glasses pre-rimmed with salt or Tajín and slices of lime. When guests arrive, fill glasses with ice, pour the tequila-lime mixture over, and top with sparkling mineral water to keep it fizzy. This setup allows you to enjoy your party without constantly playing bartender, and guests can easily serve themselves.

Tips and Variations

• Go Spicy: Add a few slices of jalapeño to the glass before adding ice for a spicy kick.
• Add a Fruity Twist: Muddle a few raspberries or add a splash of grapefruit juice for a sweet and tart variation.
• Make it sweeter: I love this drink as is, but some of my friends found it too sour. Add a splash of simple syrup if you like sweeter drinks.
• Customize Your Rim: For an extra pop of flavor, rub the rim of your glass with lime and dip it in coarse salt or Tajín before assembling your drink.

Serving Suggestions

Ranch Water is perfect as a standalone refresher or paired with light appetizers like ceviche or guacamole. It’s also the ideal companion for a backyard BBQ or a casual dinner under the stars.

Tanya’s Top Tips

• Use Quality Tequila: The simplicity of Ranch Water means the quality of your tequila will shine through. Opt for a high-quality blanco or reposado to really make your cocktail sing.
• Chill Your Ingredients: Keep your tequila and Topo Chico in the fridge before making your drink to ensure it’s refreshingly cold.

Looking for more refreshing cocktails? Try these out:

• Classic Margarita: A perfect mix of tequila, lime, and Cointreau, famous for its tangy and salty edge. Classic Margarita Recipe
• Bee's Knees: Combines gin with honey syrup and lemon for a sweet and citrusy drink. Bee's Knees Recipe
• Southside: A gin-based cocktail with mint, simple syrup, and lemon, refreshing like a mojito. Southside Recipe.

I hope you love this recipe as much as we do. If you have tried this recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below! Your feedback is invaluable and helps us grow. Thank you for your support!

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Ranch Water Recipe

A crisp, refreshing Texas-style cocktail, Ranch Water is the perfect drink for warm days. Made with just three simple ingredients—tequila, lime, and sparkling water—this light and bubbly drink is a go-to for easy sipping.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

Course: Cocktails

Cuisine: American

Keyword: ranch water, ranch water cocktail

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 138kcal

Author: Tanya

Ingredients

• 2 ounces tequila blanco or reposado
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice adjust to taste
• 4 to 6 ounces sparkling water Topo Chico preferred
• Ice
• Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

• Fill a highball or Collins glass with ice. Pour in the tequila and fresh lime juice.
• Top with sparkling water and gently stir to combine.
• Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy immediately!

Notes

For a party-friendly batch of Ranch Water, mix tequila and lime juice in a large pitcher and keep it chilled. Pour over ice and top with sparkling mineral water right before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 37mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 14IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.1mg

The whiskey sour cocktail is a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and warmth from the bourbon, creating one of the most satisfying cocktails. It's a simple drink that anyone can master, but the right technique makes all the difference.

I've always been drawn to whiskey drinks – something about that rich amber liquid just speaks to me. After years of trying different bourbon recipes, I still love the whiskey sour.

It is my favorite drink when I want something refreshing. It also has enough flavor to remind me that I'm drinking whiskey. It's the perfect introduction for friends who claim they "don't like whiskey" and a reliable standby for those of us who appreciate a well-crafted bourbon cocktail.

If you like whiskey cocktails, be sure to try my bourbon martini.

A Quick Look at The Ingredients

Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• bourbon or rye whiskey (I use Woodford Reserve (bourbon) or Uncle Nearest (Tennessee whiskey), but any bourbon you prefer will work.)
• fresh lemon juice
• simple syrup
• egg white (optional, but recommended). Using egg whites technically makes this drink a Boston sour.
• Lemon twist or cherry for garnish
• Dash of Angostura bitters (optional)

How to Make a Whiskey Sour Cocktail

Add whiskey, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white (if using) to a cocktail shaker.

Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white. This is known as a "wet shake."

Strain the mixture into a clean glass, discarding the ice.

Pour the liquid back into the shaker and shake again without ice (a "dry shake") for about 15 seconds to create a smooth, frothy texture.

Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

Garnish with a lemon twist or cherry.

How to Get the Best Foam

The secret to a beautiful, silky foam on your whiskey sour cocktail comes from the egg white, but it also depends on the shaking technique. I use both the wet shake and dry shake techniques.

Start with a wet shake—shaking your ingredients with ice first. This helps emulsify the egg whites while also beginning to chill the drink.

Then, strain the liquid, remove the ice, and put the liquid back into the shaker. Shake again without ice—the dry shake—to fully aerate the egg whites and create that luxurious, velvety foam. Don’t rush either step; shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.

No Egg? No Problem

The classic whiskey sour doesn't contain egg white, but no egg white means no pretty foam on top. If you prefer to skip the egg white (or have concerns about consuming raw eggs), you have options:

• Use aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) as a vegan alternative—about 1 tablespoon works well. I'll be honest: We felt that the aquafaba made the drink smell a little beany. However, it worked and created foam.
• Try Fee Foam Cocktail Foamer for an egg-free alternative.
• Simply make the cocktail without foam and serve it on the rocks – it'll still be delicious, just with a different texture.
• Use pasteurized egg whites if raw eggs are your only concern

A Brief History

The Whiskey Sour has been around for over a century, though its origins go back even further. While Jerry Thomas’ The Bartender’s Guide (1862) included various sour cocktails, the first documented mention of the Whiskey Sour appeared in an 1870 Wisconsin newspaper, the Waukesha Plain Dealer.

Before it became a classic cocktail, sailors were already mixing whiskey with citrus juice to help prevent scurvy during long voyages. What started as a practical way to stay healthy eventually evolved into a balanced, refreshing drink that’s stood the test of time.

Delicious Variations

Once you've mastered the classic, try these tasty variations:

• New York Sour: Float ½ oz of red wine on top for a beautiful layered effect
• Maple Sour: Substitute maple syrup for simple syrup
• Ginger Sour: Add a splash of ginger liqueur or use ginger syrup
• Smoked Sour: Use a smoky whiskey like a peated Scotch for a completely different profile
• Berry Sour: Muddle fresh berries in the bottom of your shaker before adding other ingredients

Looking for more whiskey cocktails? Try these out:

• Whiskey Cranberry Cocktail
• Bourbon Hot Toddy
• Bourbon Milk Punch

I hope you enjoy this classic cocktail as much as I do. If you have tried this or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!

Print Recipe

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Whiskey Sour

The whiskey sour cocktail is a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and warmth from the bourbon, creating one of the most satisfying cocktails. It's a simple drink that anyone can master, but the right technique makes all the difference.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

Course: Cocktails

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Whiskey Sour

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 191kcal

Author: Tanya

Ingredients

• 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
• ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
• ½ ounce simple syrup adjust to taste
• 1 egg white optional
• Ice optional

Instructions

• Add whiskey, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white (if using) to a cocktail shaker.
• Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white. This is known as a "wet shake."
• Strain the mixture into a clean glass, discarding the ice.
• Pour the liquid back into the shaker and shake again without ice (a "dry shake") for about 15 seconds to create a smooth, frothy texture. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lemon twist or cherry.

Notes

• The method of using the wet shake and then a dry shake is to help get the beautiful foam on top of the glass if using egg whites.
• If you prefer to avoid the egg white but still want the foam, fee foam
  is a good alternative.

Nutrition

Calories: 191kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 59mg | Potassium: 88mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg