Ingredients
- 60 ml gin London dry
- 15 ml fresh lime juice
- 120 ml soda water cold
- 1 wedge lime spent shell, dropped in
Instructions
- Squeeze the juice of half a lime into a tall highball glass.
- Drop the spent lime shell into the glass.
- Fill with ice.
- Pour in the gin.
- Top with cold soda water.
- Stir once and serve.
Notes
Where it came from
The Rickey was invented at Shoomaker’s saloon in Washington DC in the 1880s, originally with bourbon, by bartender George A. Williamson. It was named after Colonel Joseph Kyle Rickey, a Democratic lobbyist who drank his bourbon-lime-soda there every morning.
When gin became fashionable in the 1890s, the Gin Rickey took over and the bourbon version largely disappeared. The drink became one of the great Prohibition-era cocktails because it was easy to throw together with the rough bathtub gin of the time. F. Scott Fitzgerald gave it a cameo in The Great Gatsby.
Why no sugar
The Rickey is defined by what it leaves out. The original was a refreshing, no-fuss highball for hot Washington summers and the political class did not want anything sweet first thing in the morning. The lime adds enough acidity to balance the gin without needing sugar.
A Gin Rickey with sugar becomes a Tom Collins (which uses lemon, but the principle is the same). Both are great drinks; the Rickey is just the leaner option.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The gin
- Use
- London dry: Tanqueray, Beefeater, Plymouth, Bombay Sapphire
- Try
- Hayman’s Old Tom for a slightly softer drink
- Why
- London dry has the juniper and citrus structure to handle the lime. Heavily floral gins can clash.
The lime
- Use
- Fresh limes, just-squeezed
- Skip
- Bottled lime juice, you will taste the difference
- Why
- The Rickey has nowhere to hide. Fresh lime is non-negotiable.
The soda
- Use
- Quality soda water, cold and fresh
- Try
- A premium tonic-water-style soda, but skip actual tonic (changes the drink)
- Why
- Soda is a third of the drink. Use fresh, never flat.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Lemon juice makes a Gin Lemon Rickey, technically incorrect but tasty.
Bourbon makes the original 1880s version. Vodka makes a Vodka Rickey.
Add 7.5ml simple syrup. At that point you have made a Gin Collins, which is also great.
Add 30ml more gin or use Navy Strength gin (Plymouth Navy Strength, Hayman’s Royal Dock).
Add 2 dashes of orange or lavender bitters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Gin Rickey?
Gin, fresh lime juice and soda water. Standard build is 60ml gin, 15ml fresh lime juice and about 120ml soda over ice in a highball, with the spent lime shell dropped in. No sugar.
Why is there no sugar in a Gin Rickey?
The Rickey was created as a sharp, refreshing summer drink for Washington DC politicians who did not want sweet morning highballs. The lack of sugar is the defining feature. Add sugar and you have made a Tom Collins.
Where does the Gin Rickey come from?
The Rickey was invented at Shoomaker’s saloon in Washington DC in the 1880s, originally with bourbon. It was named after Democratic lobbyist Colonel Joseph Kyle Rickey, a regular customer. The gin version took over in the 1890s and stuck.
What is the difference between a Gin Rickey and a Tom Collins?
The Tom Collins uses lemon juice and adds simple syrup. The Gin Rickey uses lime juice and no syrup. The Rickey is drier, sharper and shorter; the Collins is sweeter and longer.
What is the difference between a Gin Rickey and a Gin and Tonic?
The G&T uses tonic water (sweetened, with quinine). The Rickey uses plain soda water and adds fresh lime juice. The G&T tastes faintly bitter from the quinine; the Rickey tastes pure citrus and gin.
How strong is a Gin Rickey?
About 13-15 percent ABV in the glass. The soda dilutes the gin to a sippable strength.
Can I make a Bourbon Rickey?
Yes, that’s the original. 60ml bourbon, 15ml lime, top with soda. F. Scott Fitzgerald drank Gin Rickeys but the bourbon version is older and equally good.
What food goes with a Gin Rickey?
Light food: oysters, ceviche, sushi, salads, cold seafood platters. The drink is dry and bright enough to handle anything that wants citrus alongside.
