Gin Rickey Classic Gin Cocktail Without Sugar Syrup

The name Rickey comes from the American lobbyist Joe Rickey, who frequented Shoomaker’s Bar in Washington D.C. The original drink was based on whiskey, lime, and carbonated water. Over time, gin became a popular base, and Gin Rickey evolved into the most well-known variant.

Gin Rickey also found a place in popular culture. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby from 1925, four Gin Rickeys are served in chapter 7.

Flavor Profile

• Dry
• Fresh
• Tangy
• Juniper and botanical notes from gin
• Light and effervescent finish

The important thing here is that the drink is not balanced with sugar syrup. The acidity from the lime should be prominent.

Gin Rickey, when three ingredients are actually enough

It's easy to associate cocktails with long ingredient lists, syrups, liqueurs, and various techniques. Gin Rickey lies almost at the opposite end of the scale.

You need gin, lime, and soda water.

It sounds almost too simple to be called a cocktail, but that simplicity is much of the point.

When you don't use sugar or liqueur to round out the flavor, both gin and lime become very pronounced. This also means that the choice of gin actually matters quite a bit.

A classic London Dry gin will give the drink a lot of juniper, citrus, and distinct botanical notes. A softer and more modern gin can make Gin Rickey lighter and more floral.

The story actually began with whiskey

The name Rickey comes from Joe Rickey, an American lobbyist who was based in Washington D.C. in the late 1800s.

The story links the drink to Shoomaker’s Bar, where bartender George Williamson is said to have created a combination of whiskey, lime, and carbonated water for Rickey.

The original Rickey was therefore not a gin cocktail.

Gin gradually became more popular as a base, and Gin Rickey evolved into the variant that most people today associate with the name. Historical descriptions vary somewhat regarding the exact year and details surrounding the first drink, but the connection between Joe Rickey, Shoomaker’s, and Washington D.C. is well established.

A cocktail without sugar syrup

What clearly distinguishes Gin Rickey from many other citrus-based cocktails is the absence of sugar syrup.

Take, for example, a Gin Sour. There, sugar is used to balance the lemon.

A Tom Collins builds on the same principle with gin, lemon, sugar, and soda water.

Gin Rickey, on the other hand, retains the tartness.

Lime juice, gin, and soda water should create a dry and fresh drink where the acidity is not hidden.

This also means that the ratio of ingredients becomes important. Too much lime can make the drink sharp, while too much soda water can make it thin.

I use 50 ml of gin and about 20 ml of fresh lime juice before topping the drink with 80–120 ml of soda water.

The amount of soda water can be adjusted based on both the glass and how intense you want the drink to be.

Gin Rickey and The Great Gatsby

Gin Rickey also has a small place in literary history.

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, published in 1925, the drink appears in chapter 7. Tom Buchanan returns with four Gin Rickeys on a very hot summer day, and the drink is almost used as part of the description of the heat and atmosphere in the scene.

It suits the drink very well.

This is not a heavy cocktail like a Manhattan or Old Fashioned. It is a light, long, and very refreshing serving.

How I Make Gin Rickey

Fill a highball glass well with ice.

Pour in 50 ml of gin and 20 ml of freshly squeezed lime juice. Then top with cold soda water and stir gently.

Garnish with a lime wedge.

It doesn't need to be more complicated than that.

But because the recipe is so simple, I would pay attention to three things: use fresh lime, ensure that the soda water is really cold, and use plenty of ice.

Then you'll get exactly what a Gin Rickey should be: a simple, dry, and refreshing classic.