Gin Rickey
George A. Williamson, Shoomaker's, Washington, D.C., 1880s, for Colonel Joe Rickey
The Gin Rickey is gin, half a fresh lime and soda water, built over ice with the spent lime shell dropped in the glass. There is no sugar, so it is dry, tart and very refreshing. A July drink, in honor of Rickey Month in Washington, D.C.
- GlassCollins
- MethodBuilt in the glass
- Ingredients3
Directions
- Squeeze half a lime into a highball glass and drop the shell in.
- Add the gin and fill with ice.
- Top with soda water and stir once.
ToolsJiggerBar spoonCollins glass
Don't have these? Build a drink from your shelf →History
The Rickey was born at Shoomaker's bar in Washington, D.C. in the 1880s, where bartender George A. Williamson made it for Colonel Joe Rickey, a lobbyist. The original was bourbon, lime and soda. Gin versions took over within about a decade, and the Gin Rickey became the standard.
Making a batch? Scale it for a crowd, add dilution water, and see how many bottles to buy.
What you'll need to buy
Based on 750ml bottles (25.4 oz), rounded up.
Bottle math, generally
Batching dilution
When you batch, there's no ice melting in a shaker, so you add the water yourself: 18% for spirit-forward drinks, 25% for shaken ones.
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