Tequila Soda (3 Ingredients)

If you’re searching for a tequila cocktail that goes down easy, this drink is the one for you. 

Through extensive testing, I have found the perfect ratio of the three ingredients for this cocktail. The right balance of lime juice, soda water, and tequila makes this the perfect refreshing cocktail for anyone who enjoys tequila. 

If you want to switch things up, you can try this recipe with any type of tequila you like.

• How to buy a high-quality bottle of tequila that mixes in perfectly with this tequila soda.
• The difference between soda water, seltzer, and club soda.
• How to customize this cocktail to make it your own.

If you’re interested in learning about more cocktails like this, sign up for my free bartender cheat sheet where you can access over 40 different cocktail recipes all in one place. 

Tequila soda falls under the classification of a highball cocktail. This means that it is made with a base spirit, ice, and a mixer which is typically carbonated. You can learn more about common cocktail styles that you'll find at the bar.

The traditional ingredients for a tequila soda are tequila, soda water, and some lime juice.

What sets this cocktail apart from other tequila sodas:

• How it highlights the taste of tequila. 
• It is lower in calories compared to other cocktails.
• It’s super easy to make at home.
• How easy it is to change up the taste with little variations.
• It uses just a few basic ingredients that you may already have at home.

By testing this cocktail with different ratios of the three main ingredients, we went on a quest to successfully discover what the best tequila soda recipe is:

• High ratios of lime juice left the cocktail too tart.
• Different amounts of soda water offered varying levels of intensity, allowing the lime and tequila to shine more or less depending on how much soda water you add.
• Different types of tequila such as blanco and reposado offered different flavors to the cocktail. 

After sorting out all these different possibilities, I can confidently say that this ratio will provide the most balanced tequila soda with lime that you're sure to love!

Tequila: When going to purchase a quality bottle of tequila, the most important thing to look for is that it’s 100% agave. If you see this somewhere on the bottle, it ensures that the spirit is made from the sugar of blue agave and no additional additives.

While there isn’t a guarantee that a bottle of tequila made with other sugars or additives is bad, when drinking a cocktail that highlights the flavor of the tequila, I strongly recommend choosing a tequila worth highlighting. If you're spending the money for a nice bottle of tequila, it's worth taking the time to check the label before making your purchase. 

My personal preference for tequila is blanco tequila. With this being said, if you prefer a certain reposado or mezcal tequila, feel free to use that instead.

Lime Juice: When it comes to juice in cocktails, freshly squeezed is always best. Lime juice is no exception.

While this is true, if all you can get your hands on is bottled lime juice, it will still work.

If you personally enjoy a more tart cocktail, feel free to add a little bit more lime juice. If you want to experiment even more, change up the citrus to lemon or orange and see how you like it.

Soda Water: Soda water is simply a generic term that describes carbonated water or sparkling water. If you see something labeled club soda, seltzer, or soda water, it will work well for this recipe.

A lime soda, such as Sprite or Fresca, could also work for this recipe because of the lime component of the drink.

I would not substitute tonic water for the soda water in this recipe. Tonic water has added sugar and a specific taste due to the quinine, which is a compound found in cinchona tree bark. 

1. The first step for this cocktail is to fill a highball glass with ice. Once the ice is in, add the tequila.

2. Next, add your lime juice.

3. After the citrus is in, top the drink with soda water.

This cocktail technique is known as the buildup method. This is the simplest cocktail technique, where you just build the cocktail directly into the serving glass. There’s no need for any other equipment other than something to stir the drink, making cleanup super easy. 

After the drink is stirred up to mix the lime, tequila, and sparkling water, be sure to taste and adjust it to make sure it is perfect to your liking. 

4. Feel free to throw a lime wedge on the rim as a garnish.

The best part about cocktail garnishes is that they make for a nice visual presentation, allowing your cocktail to stand out. Garnishes also serve a practical purpose since you can use the lime wedge to add a little extra lime juice to your drink.