Most people reach for vodka soda when they want something light and neutral. But swap the vodka for a good blanco tequila, and you get all of that plus flavor thanks to that grassy, mineral, slightly vegetal quality of agave that vodka simply does not have.

Tequila soda is clean, low-calorie, and one of the more underrated cocktail recipes in the two-ingredient category.

What tequila do I use?

Because sparkling water has no flavor of its own, the tequila is the main taste in this drink. A cheap mixto tequila, meaning one that is not 100% agave, will make a flat, vaguely sweet drink. You need 100% blue agave tequila.

Espolòn Blanco is an affordable option. If you want to spend a little more, Fortaleza Blanco or G4 are excellent; just void anything labeled “gold” for this drink.

The sparkling water

Regular sparkling soda works fine (I use my SodaStream to make my own at home), but Topo Chico is my preferred choice when I want to pick something up. The carbonation is more aggressive, the mineral quality is higher, and it complements the mineral notes in a good blanco tequila.

If you’ve ever had a Ranch Water in Texas, Topo Chico is a big part of why it tastes the way it does.

Lime and salt

Add a lime wedge squeezed into the glass with a pinch of salt on the rim, or add it directly to the drink. Salt suppresses the bitterness and brings out the agave flavor, but even without a formal salt rim, a small pinch in the drink itself makes a difference.

The cocktail garnishes guide covers salt rims and other easy cocktail garnishes in detail.

3-Ingredient Upgrade: Ranch Water

Add half an ounce of fresh lime juice, then top with Topo Chico (AKA Ranch Water), for one of the best three-ingredient cocktails in existence. The lime adds citrus acidity that balances the mineral qualities of both the tequila and the soda.

A citrus juicer makes perfect lime juice, and a clear ice cube maker gives you slow-melting ice that keeps the drink cold without watering it down.

Mocktail Version

Sparkling water with fresh lime juice and a pinch of salt is simple and delicious. Add a splash of grapefruit juice for a little more flavor. That version is close to a non-alcoholic Paloma.

Tequila cocktails to try next

• Prickly Pear Margarita
• Cactus Orchard Fizz
• Cactus Cooler Collins

More 2-Ingredient Tequila Cocktails:

• Paloma (Simple)
• Tequila Cola
• Tequila Lemonade
• Tequila Pineapple
• Tequila Soda
• Tequila Sprite
• Tequila Sunrise (2-Ingredient)
• Tequila Tonic
• Tequila Watermelon

Tequila Soda

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 2 oz blanco tequila (100% agave)
• 4 oz sparkling water or Topo Chico
• Pinch of salt (optional)
• Lime wedge, for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add tequila.
3. Top with sparkling water and stir gently.
4. Add a pinch of salt if using.
5. Squeeze a lime wedge over the top and drop it in.

3-Ingredient Ranch Water Version

Ingredients

• 2 oz blanco tequila (100% agave)
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• 4 oz Topo Chico or sparkling water
• Pinch of salt
• Lime wedge, for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add tequila and lime juice.
3. Top with Topo Chico and stir gently.
4. Add a pinch of salt and garnish with a lime wedge.