Spicy Grapefruit Ranch Water (Tequila Cocktail)

I'm pretty sure this spicy grapefruit ranch water is going to be my go-to drink of the summer. Think of it as a homemade seltzer for adults. Tart grapefruit juice and lime juice are topped off with Topo Chico and spicy jalapeños. And a little white tequila is all you need to give it margarita vibes...but just not as boozy. It's also a great alternative to hard seltzer.

Two tall clear glasses of Grapefruit Ranch Water with a green glass straw in the front glass.

You may have had a Ranch Water before, and while I do love the original drink, I wanted to give it a refreshingly citrusy kick by adding fresh grapefruit juice. For a day-long poolside or beach drink option to stave off the summer heat (without getting tipsy), I'll leave out the tequila. What's left is a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage. It's the best of both worlds!

If you're looking for other cocktail recipes, be sure to check out my Purple People Eater (a Spooky Halloween Gin Cocktail). For a year-round version of this gin drink, just omit the gummy googly eyeballs. The purple hue is even more enhanced when garnished with edible flowers. My Spiced Bourbon Black Tea Hot Toddy is also a great choice. It's more suited for cold-weather months but pro tip: it can be served over ice too.

Two other drinks that I absolutely love are from some of my food blogger friends. If you love cocktails that whisk you away to a tropical location without having to leave the living room, be sure to check out my friend Juyali's Brazilian Passion Fruit Caipirinha.

And, if you're looking for a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage loaded with honey, warm spices, and vanilla, my friend Neyssa has an amazing Puerto Rican Horchata recipe that you must try.

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Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Tasty tip
Frequently asked questions
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Ingredients

Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this recipe.

fresh grapefruit
fresh limes
Topo Chico (or other sparkling mineral water)
white tequila
Tajín
jalapeño

(See recipe card for quantities.)

Instructions

Now that we've gathered our ingredients, let's make this cocktail!

Two juiced red grapefruit halves, a silver vintage juicer, a measuring cup of red grapefruit juice, and two limes (one cut in half with a wooden-handled knife) on a wooden cutting board.

First, juice the grapefruit to equal ½ cup juice. Squeeze the limes to equal 2 tablespoons lime juice.

Lime wedges on a wooden cutting board along with a wooden handled knife and a Tajín-rimmed glass and bowl of Tajín off to the side.

Then, rub the rim of a cocktail glass with a lime wedge and dip in Tajín.

Stirring the Spicy Grapefruit Ranch Water before Topo Chico has been added with a cutting board off to the side that has lime wedges and jalapeno slices on it.

Next, add ice to the glass. Top with the juices, tequila, and jalapeño. Stir to release the oils from the jalapeño.

Pouring Topo Chico into a glass filled with grapefruit juice, tequila, lime juice, ice, and jalapeno slices with a small plate of garnishes and wooden cutting board with limes off to the side.

Finally, top with Topo Chico and garnish with grapefruit slices, lime slices, jalapeño slices, and more Tajín.

Hint: Be very careful when slicing the jalapeño. Either wear gloves or wash your hands well with soap and warm water. You definitely don't want to accidentally get jalapeño juice in your eyes. Ouch!

Substitutions

Need some ideas for ingredient substitutions? Here are a few:

Grapefruit - I love the bright red shade and sweet, tart flavor of Indian River Ruby Red grapefruit (and because we used to live in the Indian River region of Florida.) Rio Red and Star Ruby grapefruit are similar in sweetness and flavor too. Feel free to use other varieties of grapefruit--you may just need to adjust the amount of sweetness by adding a little honey or organic agave if the drink is too tart.
Topo Chico - I love Topo Chico, and given that this is a Mexican-inspired tequila cocktail, that's the sparkling water I like to use. Feel free to use your favorite carbonated water instead.
Tajín - Tajín is a Mexican spice blend made of dehydrated lime, chile peppers, and salt. I love the color it adds to the rim of the drink but margarita salt is a great subsitute too.
Tequila - I use good white/silver tequila (blanco tequila) for this drink. If you're looking for an even smoother finish, reposado tequila is also delicious. This type of tequila is aged longer than blanco tequila. Or, if you're not a fan of tequila at all, try vodka or white rum instead.

Variations

Here are some other ways to adjust this recipe:

Smoky - If you're a fan of smoky drinks like bourbon or scotch whisky, then mezcal is a great way to change up this recipe. The smokiness of mezcal is a wonderful pairing to the grapefruit and lime juice.
Spice-free - Not a fan of spicy things? Just omit the jalapeño for a spice-less cocktail.
Cucumber - Cucumber is a naturally watery vegetable, and slices of cucumber are a great addition to this drink.
Other citrus fruit - Want ranch water with a fruity spin but not in the form of grapefruit? Try tangerine juice or lemon juice instead.

Equipment

Here's the equipment you'll need to make this cocktail:

juicer
Cocktail glass
liquid measuring cup
measuring spoons

Storage

I doubt you'll have any leftovers, but they don't hold up well in the refrigerator unless you remove the ice cubes.

Tasty tip

You can also make a big-batch of the ranch water base and then top with ice and sparkling water to serve.

Frequently asked questions

What type of alcohol is in Ranch Water?

Traditional Texas Ranch Water has white tequila.

Is a Ranch Water drink healthy?

I wouldn't say that it's healthy, per se, but it is a healthier, less calorie-dense alternative to traditional margaritas.

What's the difference between a skinny margarita and Ranch Water?

A Ranch Water has 3 basic ingredients: tequila, lime juice, and sparkling water. (I've added grapefruit juice to my version.) A skinny margarita also has orange juice or orange liqueur and agave.

Why do they call it Ranch Water?

It's believed that West Texas cowboys first created u0022ranch wateru0022 as a refreshing beverage to cool off after a days work herding cattle.

What is the best tequila for Ranch Water?

A white or silver tequila is the best choice for Ranch Water since it's mild in flavor and clear in color. For a more pronounced tequila flavor, go for a reposado tequila.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Even more

These are more of my favorite recipes:

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