For the last few summers, Ranch Water has been everywhere. The simple mix of tequila, sparkling water and citrus somehow became the unofficial drink of patios, pool decks and backyard barbecues across America. It’s easy to make, refreshing and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Now, Elijah Craig thinks bourbon deserves a seat at that same table.

The Kentucky whiskey brand recently unveiled a lineup of what it’s calling “Clean Cocktails,” a collection of lighter, fresher drinks designed to show that bourbon isn’t just for cold nights, leather chairs and contemplative sipping. Leading the charge is something called Branch Water, a cocktail that feels a bit like Ranch Water’s bourbon-loving cousin.

The name isn’t entirely new. Long before cocktails had catchy social media names, folks were enjoying Bourbon and Branch, a simple mix of whiskey and water. The “branch” referred to fresh stream water, often sourced from limestone-filtered creeks that run throughout Kentucky bourbon country.

Elijah Craig’s modern version updates that old-school concept with a few contemporary touches. The recipe combines Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon with fresh grapefruit juice, mineral-rich spring water and cucumber bitters. The result sounds less like a heavy whiskey cocktail and more like something you’d happily sip while watching the sun go down on a warm summer evening.

It’s an interesting twist at a time when drinkers seem to be gravitating toward simpler cocktails built around fresh ingredients. While tequila has dominated much of the light-and-refreshing conversation in recent years, bourbon producers are increasingly showing that whiskey can play in the same space.

And honestly, it makes sense. Good bourbon already brings notes of vanilla, fruit and spice to the glass. Add a little citrus and quality water, and you end up with something surprisingly crisp.

Elijah Craig Branch Water

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
• 1 oz fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
• 4 oz spring water, preferably limestone-filtered
• 5 dashes cucumber bitters
• Citrus peel for garnish

Directions

Build the cocktail in a rocks glass. Add the bourbon, grapefruit juice, water and bitters. Fill with ice, stir gently and garnish with a citrus peel.

The Branch Water is just one of several lighter cocktails Elijah Craig is promoting this summer. Other recipes in the collection include a tropical Soursop Spritz, an Island Fizz featuring coconut water and guava nectar, and a colorful Carrot Crush made with carrot, ginger and turmeric juice.

Whether Branch Water becomes the next Ranch Water remains to be seen. But if you’re a bourbon fan looking for something a little lighter during the warmer months, it might be worth giving this whiskey-forward refresher a try.

After all, summer cocktail season doesn’t have to belong exclusively to tequila.