Easy
Fresh & Herb
3 minutes
Highball Glass
Ingredients
It shares similarities with both a Tom Collins and a Gin and Tonic, mixing gin, simple syrup, and lime juice (unlike the Tom Collins which uses lemon juice), topped with soda water (instead of the tonic water found in a Gin and Tonic).
It’s one of those timeless drinks that works anywhere, anytime.
How to Make a Gin Rickey
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Knife
Bar Spoon
Citrus Press
How to Mix
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Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
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Cut a lime in half, then use a citrus press (or citrus elbow) to juice the lime. Save a lime wheel for garnishing.
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Use a jigger (or measuring instrument) to measure and add the lime juice into the highball glass.
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Use the jigger to measure and add simple syrup.
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Use the jigger one more time to measure and add gin.
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Top up with soda water.
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Use a bar spoon to give your drink a stir.
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Perch a lime wheel on the side of your glass to garnish.
All about the Gin Rickey
A Gin Rickey is a classic built cocktail made with gin, lime juice, simple syrup and soda water, served in a highball glass filled with ice cubes.
Effortless yet distinctly sophisticated, a Gin Rickey is defined by its simplicity and punchy citrus character.
With a Gin Rickey, you get the botanical notes from the gin, the zesty bite from the lime juice, elevated by sparkling soda water. It’s crisp, herbal and citrusy with a clean, lingering finish.
- Fresh lime juice
Freshly squeezed juice will always led to a better tasting drink. Skip the store-bought bottled lime juice, and instead, grab a lime and a citrus press and get juicing. You want your lime juice to be as fresh and zesty as possible and you can only get that with fresh lime juice. - Make your own simple syrup
Sure, you can buy ready-made simple syrup but it’s always better to make your own. This way, you know that it’s fresh and you can use the finest sugar you find. Check out our article on how to make simple syrup. - Choose your gin strategically
Not all gins are the same and not all gins are made equal. Opt for a dry gin with vibrant botanicals and a lighter juniper profile, allowing the lime and soda water to do their thing.
The Gin Rickey belongs to a family of cocktails. Simply swap the gin for bourbon and you’ve got a Bourbon Rickey. Swap gin for vodka and you’ve now got a Vodka Rickey. However, if you’re looking for some other ways to mix up your drink, try these tips:
- City Rickey
This Gin Rickey variation mixes gin, cranberry juice, triple sec, and lime juice, topped with soda water. The triple sec gives the drink a little sweetness, otherwise the City Rickey is definitely one for those who love tart citrusy drinks. Check out the recipe for a City Rickey. - Double down on the sweetness
Many recipes recommend using a rich syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water) instead of simple syrup. If you prefer your drink sweeter, less botanical and less zesty, try rich syrup. - Leave out the simple syrup
While some people prefer a sweeter Gin Rickey, others prefer zesty and herbal. It’s very common to find recipes for a Gin Rickey without any sugar. Simply leave out the simple syrup entirely and you’ve got a zesty and herbal gin-forward drink without any sweetness.
The traditional way to serve a Gin Rickey is to serve it in a highball glass filled with ice cubes, garnished with a lime wheel. Either float a lime wheel or two directly in your glass or perch a single lime wheel on the side of your glass to garnish.
Looking for other garnish ideas for your Gin Rickey? Try these:
- Fancy up your garnish
Swap a lime wheel for a lime twist. Gently twist the peel over your drink to release the fragrant oils, then drop it in to boost the aroma. - Cucumber accent
Gin and cucumber make a fantastic pairing. Add a few cucumber slices to your drink for a subtly sweet, watery, and slightly vegetal taste that complements the gin beautifully and harmonizes perfectly with soda water. - Mint sprig
A mint sprig is always a good idea when you’re mixing fresh, citrusy drinks. A mint sprig adds an sweet, herbal aroma to your Gin Rickey. Highly recommended!
Gin Rickey FAQ
A Gin Rickey and G&T are very similar. In fact, the only difference is that a Gin Rickey is made with soda water, whereas a Gin and Tonic is made with tonic water.
A Gin Rickey and a Tom Collins are almost identical drinks with the only difference being that a Gin Rickey uses lime juice whereas a Tom Collins uses lemon juice.
To make your Gin Rickey taste more citrus-forward, use more lime juice, float a couple of lime wheels in your drink and squeeze a lime twist over your drink before dropping into your glass. The oils from the lime zest add even more brightness to the lime rickey cocktail recipe.
The Gin Rickey is only subtly sweet thanks to the simple syrup, but it’s more about tart lime and botanical gin-so expect a drier, more spirit-forward sip than most sweet cocktails.
While you can use any gin, a London Dry Gin with balanced botanicals is best for a well-rounded Gin Rickey. We recommend Beefeater London Dry Gin.
The Gin Rickey uses gin as its spirit base, while other rickey cocktails might use vodka, bourbon, or other spirits. The core method – spirit, lime, sweeetner and soda water – stays the same.
