Gin Rickey Cocktail

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: North American

Keyword: cocktail, gin,, lime

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 3

inactive prep (cooling the simple syrup): 10

Total Time: 18

Servings: 10-ounce cocktails

Calories: 101kcal

A Gin Rickey Cocktail is a classic drink made with gin, carbonated water, and tart lime juice originating in Washington, DC.

This recipe is intended for those of legal drinking age.

1 1/2 cups (355 milliliters) soda water divided
2 cups (435 grams) ice
3 ounces (90 milliliters) gin
2 medium limes juiced (1 1/2 ounces or 45 milliliters)
1-1 1/2 ounces (30-45 milliliters) concentrated simple syrup more or less, to taste

Add the cane sugar and cold water to a 3-quart pot.
Heat the mixture over medium heat while stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Once the mixture comes to a boil and all of the sugar dissolves, turn off the stove and remove the pot from the burner.
Pour the concentrated simple syrup into a mason jar, small pitcher, or similar container and allow it to cool completely.
To rapidly cool the simple syrup: place the container it's in in an ice-bath for 10 minutes.
Stir the simple syrup every 2 minutes to cool it evenly.

Divide the club soda equally between two highball glasses.
Add two cups of ice to a cocktail shaker.
Next, add the juice of one large lime to the ice in the shaker.
Add the gin to the shaker with the lime juice.
Add a half-ounce to one ounce of the concentrated simple syrup to the shaker.
Cap and vigorously shake the cocktail shaker until it frosts over and your hands get really cold.
Dirty pour* the contents of the shaker evenly between the two highball glasses.
Garnish each Gin Rickey with a fresh lime wheel, lime wedge, a twist of lime peel, dried lime slices, or leave it bare.
Enjoy responsibly!

To make this a Gin Rickey mocktail: replace the gin with an alcohol-free gin alternative.
To turn this into a fun kid's drink called a lime Rickey: omit the gin and add another ounce of lime juice and concentrated simple syrup to the cocktail shaker.

Substitute the soda water with sparkling mineral water, seltzer water, or tonic water as a last resort.
You can replace the lime juice with fresh lemon juice in this recipe.
I recommend using Hendrick's, Bombay Sapphire, Aviation, or Plymouth Gin in this recipe.
Since the original rickey is a bourbon drink, you can totally make yours with your favorite bourbon.
The original gin Rickey recipe doesn't call for simple syrup, so you can omit it.

Ensure the club soda is completely chilled, so you don't melt the ice when making your cocktail.
Roll the lime between the palm of your hand and the cutting board before cutting it to extract the most juice.
You don't want to use bottled lime juice in your cocktail because it tastes artificial and will decrease the quality of your drink.
Using a London dry gin will make this a juniper-forward cocktail. I recommend using a contemporary dry gin if you're not a fan of that flavor.
A dirty pour means you pour the contents of the cocktail shaker- alcohol, ice, and all into the glass, mixing the drink by gravity.

You can make the concentrated simple syrup 7-10 days ahead and store it in a jar in the fridge.