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Gin Lime Rickey Cocktail

This refreshing gin lime rickey cocktail recipe is made simply with gin, fresh lime, and club soda. It’s perfect for serving by the pool or at a summer barbecue!

Tall glass of lime rickey with short one in the background

Lime rickeys remind me of my sister, Robyn. She used to walk down to the local ice cream shop and get a non-alcoholic lime rickey. Sometimes she would get it raspberry lime rickey.

I’ve only had a sip or two of the rickey because if I were going to that ice cream shop, I wouldn’t waste my stomach space on a non ice cream item, that is for sure. I would always, ALWAYS get either a few scoops of ice cream or a milk shake.

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When I got older, I started to enjoy this gin rickey, because the flavors are outstanding, refreshing and lip-smacking good.

Why would I say that this gin lime rickey cocktail is more refreshing than say, a martini or a butterball cocktail? All cocktails that have citrus in them would be considered more refreshing.

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Helpful tips

  • Use the best gin you could afford as I do believe it makes a difference in taste. Want to learn more about gin? Click here.
  • When buying limes at the grocers, heft them in your hand and buy the heaviest and greenest limes you can find.
  • I also smell the limes. The more fragrant the lime is, the fresher it is.
  • You can wash the limes two ways: 1.) Use a natural unscented hand soap and scrub the skins with a vegetable brush and run the limes under water to wash off the soap or 2.) Fill a bowl with 3 cup of water and add 1 cup of white vinegar and let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse the limes under running water and use a brush to scrub the skin.
  • If you are making only one lime rickey, you don’t need a shaker, you can just pour the gin and lime in the glass and stir well before adding the club soda.
  • You may be tempted to put a sweetener in this cocktail, but don’t give in.  Follow the recipe as written, then taste the drink to decide if you need it to be sweetened. I believe you will be satisfied.
  • Want to try different alcohols in a rickey? Try some made with vodka, whiskey, bourbon, or tequila.
  • Want to switch it up with different flavors? Add raspberry syrup, strawberries, any berry, grapes, or a splash of lemon-lime soda.

The history

In the late 1880s, a gentleman by the name of Colonel Joe Rickey coined the name when a bartender added the juice of half a lime to Joe’s “mornin’s morning,” which was a daily dose of bourbon, lump ice and sparkling mineral water.

So, the lime rickey was first made with bourbon, but later came to be made with gin.  And apparently, in soda fountains on the east coast, the virgin version was enjoyed by kiddos, and that included my sister.

How to mix the gin lime rickey

Pre-step

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and get a measuring glass and your glassware. Also cut 6 thin lime wheels from a washed fresh lime.

After measuring out the ingredients, pour them into the shaker.

Step one

Gather the ingredients – gin, lime and club soda.

Gin, lime and club soda on the table with the shaker, glassware and a measuring glass

Step two

Measure 4 ounces of gin.

Gin measured out with the bottle, shaker and glasses in the background

Step three

Measure out 2 ounces of fresh lime juice.

Lime measured out with a lime, shaker and glassware in the background

Step four

Cap the shaker and shake for 10 seconds. Add ice to your glasses and place three lime wheels in each glass. Divide the contents of the shaker between the glasses.

The gin and lime mixed into a glass with limes as garnish in the drink and club soda in the background

Step five

Top off the cocktail with club soda. I use a stirrer to mix it all up.

The short glass with three lime wheels in as garnish with the cocktail, also the tall glass in the background

Here’s the vertical view.

Vertical view of the tall glass filled with the lime rickey with the other glass off to the left

You are going to love this. Especially sitting by the pool, sipping away!

I hope you enjoyed this gin lime rickey recipe.

Please leave me a comment!  What is your favorite gin cocktail?

Other refreshing cocktails

And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below.  I love hearing from you!  You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOKTWITTERINSTAGRAM and PINTEREST  to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

Short glass with the rickey in it with lime wheels as garnish - square

Gin Lime Rickey Cocktail

This refreshing gin lime rickey cocktail recipe is made simply with gin, fresh lime, and club soda. It’s perfect for serving by the pool or at a summer barbecue!
5 from 11 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Cocktails
Cuisine: Cocktails
Keyword: gin drink, lime rickey, refreshing drink
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2 Cocktails
Calories: 145kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces gin
  • 2 ounces lime juice
  • 4 ounces club soda (I usually don’t measure, I just top off the glass with the soda)

Garnish

    • 3 – 4 lime wheels

    Instructions

    • Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice
    • Add gin and lime juice
      4 ounces gin, 2 ounces lime juice
    • Cap shaker and shake for 10 seconds
    • Add more ice to the glasses and add lime wheels
      3 – 4 lime wheels
    • Divide the contents of the shaker between the two glasses
    • Put a stirrer in each glass, top them off with club soda, and stir to blend
      4 ounces club soda
    • Sip
    • Smile
    • Enjoy
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    Notes

    Helpful tips
    • Use the best gin you could afford as I do believe it makes a difference in taste. Want to learn more about gin? Click here.
    • When buying limes at the grocers, heft them in your hand and buy the heaviest and greenest limes you can find.
    • I also smell the limes. The more fragrant the lime is, the fresher it is.
    • You can wash the limes two ways: 1.) Use a natural unscented hand soap and scrub the skins with a vegetable brush and run the limes under water to wash off the soap or 2.) Fill a bowl with 3 cup of water and add 1 cup of white vinegar and let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse the limes under running water and use a brush to scrub the skin.
    • If you are making only one lime rickey, you don’t need a shaker, you can just pour the gin and lime in the glass and stir well before adding the club soda.
    • You may be tempted to put a sweetener in this cocktail, but don’t give in.  Follow the recipe as written, then taste the drink to decide if you need it to be sweetened. I believe you will be satisfied.
    • Want to try different alcohols in a rickey? Try some made with vodka, whiskey, bourbon, or tequila.
    • Want to switch it up with different flavors? Add raspberry syrup, strawberries, any berry, grapes, or a splash of lemon-lime soda.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2cocktails | Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 33mg | Vitamin C: 8.5mg
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    Originally published in August of 2017.

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    From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.

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    22 Comments

    1. I love simple cocktails, so this is great! Just soda and lime, so it doesn’t distract from the flavor. Great!

    2. This looks soooo refreshing. It is so hot here today that I am definitely wishing I were sipping one of these poolside right now!

    3. This looks so delicious! I love when drinks are simple so I can get to the fun part quicker.. drinking!

    4. I just started drinking gin so I’m excited to try this. I also love your lime picking tips. So good!

    5. I love lime flavored anything!! I think I’ll have mine, like your sister enjoyed it – non alcoholic, and drink it all summer long!

    6. This looks so refreshing and perfect for a spring cocktail! I love lime so I know this will be delicious. Great photography too!

    7. Such a refreshing and crisp drink! Following the step by steps you give will definitely make it turn out perfectly!

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