At Drummond Ranch, Labor Day is more than just a three-day weekend—it’s a celebration of food, family, and the last golden moments of summer. Ree Drummond, better known as The Pioneer Woman, recently revealed how she marks the holiday with an easy, refreshing cocktail that’s quickly become a go-to: Ranch Water.
“It’s Labor Day, which is, symbolically, the last summer holiday of the year… and the day of the year that I suddenly feel compelled to drink all the lemonade and eat all the watermelon I can get my hands on,” Ree told The Pioneer Woman magazine. Alongside cookout staples like steaks hot off the grill, creamy potato salad, and buttery corn on the cob, she adds one more festive tradition—the three-ingredient drink she swears by.
Ree Drummond’s Go-To Ranch Water Recipe
The cocktail, which hails from West Texas, is simple but stylish: fresh lime juice, tequila, and Topo Chico sparkling water. Ree insists the brand makes all the difference. “Topo Chico in a glass is the very best sparkling water for this drink,” she explained.
To make it, just add crushed ice halfway up the glass, squeeze in lime juice, pour tequila to taste, and top with Topo Chico. Ree encourages fans to customize the proportions: “The measurements aren’t set in stone, so feel free to adjust them to suit your preferences.” For flair, she suggests garnishing with lime wheels—or even summer fruits like pineapple or blackberry for a fun twist.
Like any great cocktail, Ranch Water invites creative upgrades. Ree recommends experimenting with Topo Chico’s flavored varieties, like Twist of Lime or Twist of Grapefruit, for extra zest. Swapping tequilas is another way to shake things up—think coconut or cucumber-jalapeño infused spirits for a surprising kick.
Want to take it even further? Infuse blanco tequila with green tea for a fresh, vegetal flavor, or garnish with spicy jalapeño rings to add heat. “It’s a light, refreshing cocktail that makes summer feel like it could last forever,” Ree added.
Ree pairs her Ranch Water with plenty of fan-pleasing dishes.
Ree Drummond’s Favorite Labor Day Recipes
No holiday weekend at the ranch would be complete without some of The Pioneer Woman’s tried-and-true dishes. Drummond loves kicking things off with hot, golden corn fritters straight from the fryer. “They’re delightfully yummy!” she says, especially when sprinkled with powdered sugar or drizzled with maple syrup for a sweet twist.
Her picky side comes out when it comes to potato salad, though—she admits she likes to “smash and mash” her potatoes, but notes the dish still works just as well left chunky.
For something light and fresh, Drummond swears by her watermelon feta salad, which she describes as “cool, colorful, stunning.” The combination of cucumber, feta, mint, and pistachios makes it, in her words, a “gorgeous, glorious salad.”
And, of course, no celebration would be complete without dessert. Drummond turns to a blackberry cobbler recipe passed down from her stepmom Patsy, sparking what she calls an “intense debate” in the family over whether cobblers should have pie crust or biscuit toppings. “It’s a dream,” she says of her cakey, comforting version, adding, “Ice cream is required!!”
Tell us! Will you be making Ree Drummond’s Ranch Water this Labor Day? Let us know in the comments below.
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