Food and Recipes Drinks Cocktails Strawberry Ranch Water 5.0 (1) 1 Review Our favorite easy cocktail with spring's sweetest fruit. By Anna Theoktisto Anna Theoktisto Anna Theoktisto is a recipe tester and developer who's been working in Dotdash Meredith test kitchens since 2017. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on April 25, 2023 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Active Time: 5 mins Total Time: 5 mins Servings: 1 A simple refreshing cocktail like Ranch Water is a summer no-brainer, but when infused with seasonal strawberries, the drink is irresistible. It also couldn’t be easier to make the berry-infused spirit, as all it requires is a bottle of blanco tequila, a quart of strawberries, and a little time. Your patience pays off too, as the strawberry-flavored spirit can be used in many other tequila cocktails, from margaritas to tequila sunrises. When it comes to ranch water, no matter the flavor, there are a few pro-tips to keep in mind. One tip is that not all mineral water is made the same. We’re partial to Topo Chico, and the ‘twist of lime’ flavor is a great way to add an extra citrus tang to this cocktail. Speaking of citrus, use fresh lime juice in this drink. When a cocktail has so few ingredients, it’s extra important that each component has as much flavor as possible, and you just won’t get as bright a flavor from bottled lime juice. Ingredients 6 Tbsp. (3 oz.) Strawberry-Infused Tequila (recipe below) 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from 1 lime) 1/2 cup chilled sparkling mineral water (such as Topo Chico) Lime wedge, for garnish Fresh strawberry, for garnish Directions Fill a glass with ice. Pour in tequila and lime juice. Top with sparkling mineral water. Garnish with a lime wedge and a fresh strawberry. Strawberry-Infused Tequila Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Place 1 qt. fresh strawberries (hulled and sliced) in a large glass jar with lid. Pour 1 (750-milliliter) bottle blanco tequila over strawberries; seal lid on jar. Reserve tequila bottle. Let tequila mixture stand in a cool, dark place, shaking twice a day, until tequila turns red and strawberry flavor is pronounced, about 2 days. Using a funnel, pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer or coffee filter into reserved bottle; discard strawberries. Active 5 min. - Total 2 days 10 min. Makes 3 cups. Rate it Print