Gin Rickey

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What Is a Gin Rickey?

The Gin Rickey is one of the simplest and most refreshing highballs ever created: gin, fresh lime and club soda poured over ice in a tall glass. There is no sugar, no syrup and no liqueur, which makes it bracingly tart, crisp and dry. Think of it as a sparkling, unsweetened cousin of the Gimlet, or a lighter, livelier alternative to a Gin and Tonic. It is a drink built for sweltering summer afternoons, and it has been cooling people down since the 1880s.

A Brief History of the Gin Rickey

The Rickey is one of the few classic cocktails named after a real, documented person. Colonel Joe Rickey was a Missouri-born Democratic lobbyist who spent much of his time in Washington, D.C., in the 1880s. His favorite haunt was Shoomaker's, a bar near the Capitol frequented by politicians and journalists. As the story goes, Rickey liked his morning bourbon with a splash of sparkling mineral water, and one day bartender George Williamson added the juice of half a lime and dropped the spent shell into the glass. The "Joe Rickey" was born.

The original was made with whiskey, but within a decade the gin version had overtaken it in popularity, helped along by the gin craze of the 1890s and the drink's natural affinity for gin's bright botanicals. Joe Rickey himself reportedly grew tired of being known mainly for a drink. The Gin Rickey went on to become a symbol of the Jazz Age: in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Tom Buchanan memorably brings a tray of gin rickeys into a stifling room on the hottest day of the summer. In 2011 Washington, D.C., officially declared the Rickey its native cocktail, and July is celebrated locally as Rickey Month. The drink's history is summarized on Wikipedia's Rickey page.

Flavor Profile and What to Expect

The Gin Rickey is all about freshness. The first sip is sharp, zesty and effervescent, with lime front and center. Gin's juniper, citrus peel and herbal botanicals come through clearly because nothing sweet is masking them. The soda keeps everything light and lively, and the lime shell sitting in the glass slowly releases its fragrant oils as you drink. The finish is clean and dry, almost like a sparkling limeade without the sugar.

Because it is unsweetened, the Rickey is a great choice for anyone who finds most cocktails too sugary. If you prefer a little sweetness, the closely related Tom Collins and Gin Fizz add simple syrup and use lemon instead of lime.

How to Make the Perfect Gin Rickey

The Rickey is built directly in the glass. Fill a highball glass with ice, squeeze in half an ounce of fresh lime juice (about half a lime), add two ounces of gin and top with four ounces of cold club soda. Stir gently once to combine. The traditional touch is to drop the squeezed lime shell into the glass, but a fresh lime wedge or wheel works just as well.

With so few ingredients, quality matters. A London dry gin with strong juniper and citrus notes is the classic choice, but softer, floral gins also make lovely Rickeys. Use freshly squeezed lime juice and very cold, highly carbonated soda water, and keep the gin in the freezer if you want an extra-crisp drink. Some bartenders add a barspoon of simple syrup or a splash of lime cordial to round off the edges, but purists insist the drink should be bone dry.

Popular Variations

The Rickey is really a formula: spirit, lime and soda. That means it is easy to customize. The original whiskey Rickey made with bourbon or rye is still excellent. You can also try our Rum Rickey, the clean Vodka Rickey or the seasonal Autumn Rickey. Fruit liqueurs make popular additions: a splash of raspberry or cherry liqueur turns the drink pink and slightly sweet, while a dash of elderflower liqueur adds floral notes. In D.C. during Rickey Month, bartenders compete to create inventive versions with herbs, shrubs and house-made syrups. Lovers of lime-forward gin drinks should also try the Fitzgerald, a fittingly named sour with a literary connection.

How to Serve It

Serve the Gin Rickey in a tall, chilled highball glass filled with ice. A long bar spoon or a straw is helpful for giving it a stir as the lime shell settles. Because the drink is low in sugar and high in fizz, it is best enjoyed immediately while it is at its coldest and most effervescent.

Food Pairings and Occasions

The Gin Rickey's clean, tart profile makes it a versatile partner for food. It is excellent with oysters, ceviche, grilled fish, shrimp cocktail and light salads, and it cuts through fried snacks like calamari or fish and chips. Its Jazz Age associations make it a natural fit for Gatsby-themed parties, and its low sugar content makes it a favorite for long summer days by the pool or at a backyard barbecue. For more timeless recipes, browse our classic cocktails collection.

Why People Love the Gin Rickey

The Gin Rickey proves that a great cocktail does not need to be complicated. Three ingredients, thirty seconds and a glass of ice deliver something genuinely refreshing and endlessly drinkable. It has history, literary glamour and a clean, modern taste that fits perfectly with today's preference for lower-sugar drinks. For another expert take, see Punch's Gin Rickey recipe. Next time the temperature soars, skip the sugary drinks and mix yourself a Rickey.