Gin Rickey

Gin Rickey

By Mark Hinds | Updated January 28, 2025

https://www.umami.site/dish/cocktails/There aren’t many cocktails as easy to make or as refreshing to drink on a hot summer day as the Gin Rickey.

This classic Washington DC drink is named after Col. Joe Rickey. The Colonel is one of those great drinkers from the 19th century who seemed to have done everything and been everywhere, including spending time lobbying Congress and drinking a lot in a famous Washington DC bar called Shoemakers.

Among people who’ve written about the gin rickey’s history, there is some disagreement over whether he invented the drink or just like to order them a lot. What does seem to be clear is that the Rickey started life as a whiskey drink that quickly morphed into a gin drink, much to the Colonel’s dismay.

More recently the Washington D.C.  Craft Bartenders Guild has declared July to be Rickey month, encouraging local bartenders to come up with their own versions.

What we like so much about our Gin Rickey recipe is how simple it is to make and how refreshing it is to drink.

Gin Rickey

Gin Rickey

5 from 1 vote
There aren't many drinks as easy to make or as refreshing to drink on a hot summer day than the Gin Rickey. This classic Washington DC drink is named after Col. Joe Rickey. The Colonel is one of those great drinkers from the 19th century who seemed to have done everything and been everywhere, including spending time lobbying Congress and drinking a lot in a famous Washington DC bar called Shoemakers.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 oz gin
  • 1/2 of the juice of a lime
  • 3 oz club soda

Instructions 

  • Start by juicing half of lime.
    1/2 of the juice of a lime
  • Stir the lime juice, gin, and club soda together.
    1 1/2 oz gin, 3 oz club soda
  • Serve in a highball glass over ice. Garnish with a slice of lime or mint.

Notes

We’ve tried a number of variations using different mineral waters as the mixer, but keep coming back to club soda as our favorite.
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Nutrition
Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 19mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 4.5mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate based on available ingredients and preparation.

Mark is an experienced food writer, recipe developer, and photographer who is also Umami’s publisher and CEO. A passionate cook who loves to cook for friends, he can often be found in the kitchen or by the grill testing new recipes.

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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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