Ranch is the trending flavor of… the last century? Ever since this dressing mix arrived on the scene in the 1950’s, its influence only seems to get stronger, and the ways to use this salad dressing only gets better. But why limit ranch to dipping finger foods or flavoring everyone’s favorite casserole? After all, ranch is so good, you might as well drink it. Or at least, that’s what we thought when we created these three craft cocktails—specifically with ranch flavor in mind.

No, we didn’t pour purchased ranch into a cocktail shaker. Instead, we used milk-washed liquor and stocked up on dry ranch dressing mix to infuse some of the alcohol and the garnishes with a punch of this buttermilk-based flavor maker. And just so it could be enjoyed from brunch to bedtime, we decided to make a Bloody Mary, Ranch-Inspired Gin and Tonic, and a Ranch Martini.

Bring out the cocktail glasses, try every recipe, and cheers—to ranch!

Ranch-Inspired Gin and Tonic

Milk washing liquor is a technique used in this recipe for smooth flavor, and adds some body to this stir-together cocktail. Refrigerate the spirit up to two months and use in any gin cocktail. The milk-washed gin and an assortment of vegetables, plus garlic and shallot, impart ranch-like flavor.

Makes 1 cocktail. Fill a large wine glass or water goblet with ice. Add 4 oz. tonic water and 2 oz. Milk Washed Gin (see recipe below). Garnish with a lemon slice, 3 shallot rings, a thin slice garlic, 1-2 sprigs of garden herbs like Italian parsley or dill weed, mustard seeds or black peppercorns, and a cucumber slice or celery stick. Stir gently.

For Milk Washed Gin: In a small saucepan bring 1 cup whole milk just to a simmer. Add 1/4 cup lemon juice and remove from heat—it will curdle. Let stand 5 minutes for curds to separate. Add 1 cup dry gin. Strain mixture through a fine strainer to remove solids. Strain again through a coffee filter until clear. Chill at least 1 hour before using. Store in the refrigerator up to 2 months.

Ranch Bloody Mary

Take your average Bloody Mary and kick it up a notch with dry dressing mix and ranch-flavored dill pickle spears. You can use the pickle brine in this recipe and in the Ranch Martini below.

Makes 6 cocktails. In a pitcher, combine 1 (24-oz.) bottle spicy vegetable juice, 2 Tbsp. brine from Ranch Pickles (see below), 2 Tbsp. purchased or homemade ranch dressing mix, and 1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce. Chill at least 1 hour. When ready to serve, fill six pint glasses with ice. To each glass, add 4 oz. of the chilled Bloody Mary mix and 1 1/2 oz. cucumber vodka. Garnish with bacon strips, Ranch Pickles, and celery sticks.

For Ranch Pickles: Open a 24-oz. jar of dill pickle spears. Pour out 3 Tbsp. of the brine. Add 3 Tbsp. ranch dressing mix. Screw on lid and shake well. Refrigerate 24 hours, shaking occasionally to completely coat and marinate pickles.

Ranch Martini

A dirty martini gets a whole new upgrade with ranch-stuffed olives. Cucumber vodka and brine from our Ranch Pickle recipe makes it perfectly savory and garden-like, while still drinking smooth.

Makes a single cocktail. In a cocktail shaker half filled with ice, combine 2 oz. cucumber vodka, 1/2 oz. dry vermouth, and 1/2 oz. brine from Ranch Pickles (see Ranch Bloody Mary above). Cover and shake until very cold. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Thread a Ranch-Stuffed Olive (see below) and a small slice of a Ranch Pickle (if using) onto a decorative pick. Add to the glass.

For Ranch-Stuffed Olives: Pipe ranch-flavored cream cheese into pitted colossal green olives. Serve in martinis or alongside appetizers in a cocktail spread.