Gin Rickey
Alessandro Scire CalabrisottoShare
Bone-dry, fizzy and built for sweltering days, the Gin Rickey is the thinking person's highball. With no sugar to hide behind, it lets crisp gin, sharp lime and cold soda speak for themselves — a Washington original that became one of America's defining warm-weather refreshers.
History of the Gin Rickey
The Rickey was born in Washington, D.C. in the 1880s, and its creation is traditionally linked to Shoomaker's bar and a lobbyist named Colonel Joe Rickey. The original version was made with bourbon, but it was the gin variation that truly captured the public imagination and went on to define the drink for generations.
The Gin Rickey rose to prominence as a quintessential summer cooler, prized for its bracing dryness in an era when many cocktails leaned sweet. It earned a lasting place in popular culture when F. Scott Fitzgerald featured it in The Great Gatsby, cementing its association with the glamour and heat of the Jazz Age. To this day it remains a celebrated symbol of the American capital's drinking heritage.
Recipe: How to Make a Classic Gin Rickey
Ingredients:
- 60 ml (2 oz) gin
- 22.5 ml (0.75 oz) fresh lime juice
- 90 ml (3 oz) chilled soda water
- 1 lime half, for squeezing and dropping into the glass
Instructions:
- Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
- Add the gin and fresh lime juice directly to the glass.
- Top with chilled soda water and stir gently to combine.
- Squeeze in a lime half, drop the spent shell into the glass and serve.
Tips for Perfection:
- Keep the drink unsweetened to stay true to its classic, bracingly dry character.
- Use well-chilled soda water and plenty of ice to maximise the refreshing fizz.
- Drop the spent lime shell into the glass to add a subtle aromatic bitterness from the peel.
Additional Recommendations
Variations:
- Bourbon Rickey: the original whiskey version, made with bourbon in place of gin.
- Raspberry Rickey: muddling a few fresh raspberries for a fruity, lightly sweet twist.
- Lime cordial Rickey: adding a small dash of lime cordial for those who prefer a touch of sweetness.
Pairings:
- Salty bar snacks such as olives or crisps.
- Fresh seafood and shellfish.
- Grilled vegetables with a squeeze of citrus.
Presentation:
- Serve in a tall highball glass to showcase its sparkling, crystal-clear simplicity.
- Garnish with a fresh lime wedge perched on the rim.
Curiosity: A Fun Fact About the Gin Rickey
The Gin Rickey is so closely tied to its hometown that it has been celebrated as the official native cocktail of Washington, D.C. — a rare honour that reflects how deeply this simple three-ingredient cooler is woven into the city's identity.