Tequila Soda
Tequila, lime and soda water over ice. Three ingredients, dry and clean. Also known as a Ranch Water.
- Time
- 3 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Highball
- Strength
- 1.9 UK units
How to make a Tequila Soda
- Fill the glass with ice. Fill a tall glass with cubes. More ice keeps the drink colder and slows the melting.
- Add the tequila and lime. Pour in the tequila and the lime juice.
- Top with soda. Pour in cold soda water slowly, so the bubbles stay in the drink.
- Stir once and garnish. Give it one gentle stir from the bottom. Squeeze the lime wedge over the top and drop it in.
- Glass
- HighballNo highball? A large tumbler.
- Ice
- Ice cubes
- Garnish
- A lime wedgeOr: A lime wheel, or a pinch of salt on the rim.
What you need to make a Tequila Soda
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Citrus squeezerFresh juice makes the biggest difference of anything.
Bar spoonA long teaspoon does the job.
Bottles we'd use
- A 100% agave blanco tequilaEspolon Blanco or Olmeca Altos Plata: with this little in the glass, the tequila quality shows.Find it on Amazon
- Soda waterFever-Tree Club Soda or a similar brand, with fine, long-lasting bubbles.Find it on Amazon
Links to Amazon are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Bar Bandol may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tequila Soda variations and swaps
Keep the same tequila and lime base and change what goes on top: grapefruit soda gives you a Paloma, and ginger beer a tequila mule. For a gentler drink, use 40 ml of tequila and 120 ml of soda. Add three or four mint leaves, a few cucumber slices or a slice of jalapeño to the glass. Replace the lime juice with a squeezed lime wedge for a quicker build. A reposado tequila gives a rounder, slightly oaky version.
The Tequila Soda story
The tequila soda is as simple as a long drink gets: tequila, fresh lime and soda water over ice. It is also known as a Ranch Water, a name widely linked to Texas, and neither name has a clear origin story.
With so little else in the glass, the tequila shows, so use a 100% agave blanco and very cold, fresh soda. Squeeze the lime yourself and keep the soda in the fridge, so the ice melts slowly and the bubbles last. If you find it too dry, add 5 ml of agave syrup.
Tequila Soda: your questions answered
What is in a Tequila Soda?
A Tequila Soda is made with 50 ml tequila blanco, 15 ml fresh lime juice and 100 ml soda water. Garnish: a lime wedge.
How strong is a Tequila Soda?
Made to this recipe, a Tequila Soda contains about 1.9 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Tequila Soda in?
Serve a Tequila Soda in a highball over ice. No highball? A large tumbler.
