Gin Rickey Cocktail

A Gin Rickey is a refreshing, carbonated cocktail made from gin and lime juice. It’s typically served in a highball glass with ice.

The Gin Rickey is named after a Confederate soldier and Washington DC lobbyist, Colonel Joe Rickey, who died in 1903. His obituary in the New York Times read:

“Col. Joseph Karr Rickey, famous throughout the country as the originator of the concoction bearing his name, died suddenly yesterday.”

Now, Col. Rickey’s drink of choice didn’t include any gin, rather it was a mixture of lime, soda, and bourbon that was his drink of choice at Shoemaker’s Bar on Pennsylvania Avenue. But the popularity of the Rickey grew and with it different ingredients. Surpassing the other Rickey’s in popularity though was the Gin Rickey.

The Gin Rickey is traditionally mixed at room temperature or over ice and then strained into a tall glass filled with fresh ice cubes; it can also be shaken before being strained and served without ice.

A typical recipe for a Gin Rickey calls for two parts gin to one part lime juice, but other proportions are not uncommon, especially if someone prefers their drink less tart or more sweetened than usual.

If you’re feeling adventurous there are many variations available that use different types of citrus fruit juices or sub in some other alcohol bases such as bourbon.

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