My Snake on the Water Cocktail is Ranch Water’s Kissing Cousin

Ranch water, otherwise known as tequila and soda with lime juice, has become a modern cocktail classic throughout much of the South for its easy construction and drinkability. But, for a craft cocktail gal like me, I have to admit that simplicity can sometimes border on a little boring. 

The same was true for my friend Tracie Broom of West Columbia, South Carolina, who invented a new take on ranch water. While visiting dive bar Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge on vacation in New Orleans with friends, she was craving a version of a negroni with tequila. “However, at this bar it’s all about those well classics [think bourbon and Coke or Long Island iced tea], but they did have Aperol to fancy up our drinks!” And thus, a great idea was born. 

The combination of tequila, soda, and Aperol stuck with Broom when she returned to her hometown, which is known for its summer heat and humidity. The cocktail became her house poolside offering, and I was lucky to sip one on more than one occasion. 

Tips for Making a Snake on the Water Cocktail

As the author of the upcoming book South Carolina Cocktails, I’m ready for the challenge of making this drink part of the summer cocktail canon. First, I codified a few things: 

• The glass: Always keep it “tall,” bartender speak for a Collins, highball, or pint glass, though I highly encourage the latter for hydration amplification. 
• The tequila: Go with a blanco or plata tequila, but don’t skimp on the quality. The fresh bite of this type of tequila, versus an añejo or a reposado, balances the drink better.
• The garnish: Keep Broom’s brilliance of using an orange slice for garnish, which adds a slightly different and more sweet note than a lime.

I added my own spin on this recipe in two ways: I switched out the Aperol for Campari—its more robust, bitter cousin—as a nod to the negroni inspiration, and I named it Snake on the Water. 

Why? Drive through the American South, and chances are you’ll spot a slow-moving river flowing under a highway overpass, banks obscured by overhanging trees that drop leaves into water stained the color of tea. It winds off into the distance around a bend, mysteriously making its way to the sea on its own timeline. 

From the Apalachicola in Florida to South Carolina’s Edisto and Congaree, summer fun often includes kayaking or canoeing down one of these rivers. It’s calm, easy, and oh-so-cooling. 

However, you’re not alone—nature is teeming around you with every ripple, including snakes that swim on the surface of the water. Watch out, they’re not sticks—they bite! So, too, will this cocktail, made for the days when all you want to do is sail down a lazy river. 

How To Make My Snake on the Water Cocktail

For one serving, you’ll need:

• 1 1/2 ounces good-quality blanco tequila
• 3/4 ounce Campari
• Club soda
• 1 orange slice, for garnish

Fill a highball or pint glass with ice. Add the tequila and Campari, then the club soda, filling to an inch below the rim of the glass. Garnish with the orange slice and sip with a straw.

More Easy Cocktails To Sip

• Tinto de Verano
• Spaghett
• Mezcal Shandy
• Kalimotxo