Gin Lime Rickey

What is Gin Lime Rickey?

The Gin Lime Rickey is one of the oldest documented cocktails in American bar history, with a precisely traceable origin story that dates to the 1880s in Washington DC. The original Rickey was created at Shoomaker's bar near the White House for Colonel Joe Rickey, a lobbyist and Democratic Party powerbroker who frequented the bar daily during the late 19th century. The original 1880s recipe was made with bourbon rather than gin, combining whiskey, lime juice, and carbonated water in a tall glass over ice. The gin version emerged around 1895 when bartender George Williamson, also at Shoomaker's, began making the drink with gin instead of bourbon. The gin variation quickly overtook the bourbon original in popularity and became one of the most ordered cocktails in America by the early 20th century, helping to drive the rise of lime imports into the United States to such an extent that Colonel Rickey himself eventually entered the lime importation business. The Gin Rickey was famously favoured by F. Scott Fitzgerald, who referenced it in The Great Gatsby in 1925, cementing its place in American literary and drinking culture. The cocktail remains a defining example of the simple American highball tradition that prioritises balance, refreshment, and quality ingredients over complexity.

Don't forget to see what other drinks you can make with the ingredients you already have in your bar.

Taste profile

The Gin Lime Rickey is one of the driest and most genuinely refreshing classic cocktails in the standard repertoire, defined by what it does not contain rather than by what it does. Gin leads the palate with its botanical character: juniper, citrus, and the specific signature of whichever gin is used come through with significantly more clarity than they would in any sweeter cocktail. Fresh lime juice provides the dominant flavour: sharp, bright, and clean enough to dominate the drink without overwhelming the gin's botanicals. Simple syrup adds just enough sweetness to balance the lime's tartness, but the original 19th century recipe contained no sugar at all, making the modern version slightly more approachable while preserving the dry, refreshing character. Club soda extends the drink with carbonation that lifts the gin's aromatics and makes each sip feel genuinely thirst-quenching. The overall flavour is dry, citrus-forward, and bracingly fresh, drinking like a more sophisticated and botanical version of a Tom Collins.

Serving suggestions

The most important adjustment to make to the standard recipe is increasing the club soda significantly. A traditional Rickey uses 2 to 4 ounces of soda water to top the drink, not the 0.25 ounce splash the basic recipe sometimes calls for: the soda is meant to extend the drink into a long, refreshing highball rather than simply add a hint of fizz. Build directly in a tall highball glass over plenty of fresh ice rather than shaking, as the Rickey is a built cocktail in the American highball tradition where preserving carbonation matters more than emulsification. Use freshly squeezed lime juice without exception: bottled lime juice produces a noticeably flatter, less vibrant result, and in a four-ingredient drink the citrus quality directly defines the finished cocktail. Choose a London dry style gin such as Tanqueray, Beefeater, or Bombay Sapphire for the most authentic 19th century character, or experiment with contemporary botanical gins like Hendrick's for a more modern interpretation. A lime wedge squeezed and dropped into the glass is the standard garnish, with no other accent needed: the Rickey is one of the cocktails that benefits most from minimalist presentation. For a sweeter variation, increase the simple syrup to three quarter ounce and add a fresh mint sprig.

Why You'll Love It?

Ingredients for Gin Lime Rickey

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Step‑by‑Step Instructions

1. In a glass with ice cubes pour gin, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup. Stir gently to mix the ingredients together.
2. Top the glass with club soda, adding just enough to give the cocktail a refreshing fizz. Garnish the Gin Lime Rickey with a lime wedge(optional).