Ranch water is a cocktail typically made with tequila, lime juice, and Topo Chico sparkling mineral water. It originates in Texas, often traced to an Austin restaurant that opened in 1998.
| Cocktail | |
|---|---|
| Type | Cocktail |
| Base spirit | |
| Standard drinkware |  |
| Commonly used ingredients | Lime juice, Topo Chico or other sparkling water |
There are various stories about its origin. Many attribute the drink to Kevin Williamson, an Austin restaurant owner, who drank a similar mixture as a young man while hunting with his father. In 1998, he opened a restaurant with ranch water, a margarita with Topo Chico on the side, which patrons could mix to taste. Some recipes include orange liqueur, like margaritas do. The historic Gage Hotel in Marathon, Texas, with which Williamson has worked, also serves ranch water.[1]
Various companies, especially Texas-based ones market canned ranch waters, often labeled hard seltzers.[1] Topo Chico's hard seltzer line includes a ranch water. Some US beer brewers have begun producing ranch water using a malt base, allowing them to bypass licensing requirements for distillers, in light of increasing consumer appetite for prepackaged cocktails and declining beer sales.[2] The lack of tequila in canned versions has led to backlash from fans of the drink,[3] and a class action lawsuit against Dos Equis claiming false advertising due to a lack of tequila and lime juice in their version.[4]
References
edit
- ^ a b Gray, Kevin (28 June 2022). "This Unassuming Texan Cocktail Is the Drink of the Summer". Thrillist. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ Stein, Michael (5 July 2023). "When Beer Goes Flat". Slate. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ Rosenthal, Abigail (6 May 2021). "Respect yourself and don't drink ranch water in a can this summer". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ Wolfe, Pedro (12 January 2023). "Class Action Against Heineken's Dos Equis Ranch Water Is the Latest in a String of Suits Alleging the Lack of Tequila in Canned Beverages". Thrillist. Retrieved 9 August 2023.