Lime Rickey is an outrageously refreshing drink that works as a cocktail or mocktail! It’s equally delicious with gin or virgin.
Here’s a sparkling drink as refreshing as a cocktail or mocktail: the Lime Ricky! This refreshing drink is a cousin of the classic Rickey Gin, although some people mistake it for the same drink. Others say the lime version is a virgin drink. Whatever you define: we have a recipe! Make it with gin or whiskey or use our mocktail substitute. One sip and it’s bubbly, fizzy and ultra-tart: with the effect of jumping into a cold pool on a hot summer’s day. Here’s how it works: Whatever you decide!
What is a Lime Rickey?
The Gin Rickey is a highball cocktail made with gin, sparkling water and lime juice. It was invented along with bourbon in the 1880s and then became very popular along with gin in the 1890s. The story goes that a Democratic politician named Colonel Joe Rickey made the drink in a bar in Washington DC (read more about it). The drink became popular around the world and is even mentioned in books like the 1920s novel. Gatsby the Magnificent.
Some people say that a “Lime Rickey” is the same as a Gin Rickey. Others claim it’s a gin or bourbon Rickey, like the original Rickey back then. Still others say it’s a mocktail! It is popularly prepared as a mocktail: sometimes pure without sugar, sometimes with added sugar.
Option 1: Make the Lime Rickey Cocktail
The Lime Rickey is a super easy drink, like most highball cocktails. Highball cocktails are drinks that feature a higher non-alcoholic mixer to alcohol ratio. Most of the time, highballs are mixed in the glass, so there’s no need to mess up a shaker! Take these ingredients and pour them into a glass:
- gin or bourbon
- Carbonated water (carbonated water, unsweetened)
- lime juiceFreshly squeezed
Add ice and lime wedges and serve! It’s that simple. Our preference? We like the drink with gin like Gin Rickey because we find gin sweeter than bourbon. But bourbon is good, too: It’s a bit like a whiskey highball.
Option 2: Make the Lime Rickey Mocktail
Looking for the non-alcoholic version? There are several ways to solve this problem as a virgin drink. Do the same as above, but choose one of the following options instead of gin:
- Option 1: Use caper juice or cucumber juice! Sounds strange, but it’s actually very effective. Using a squirt of juice in a glass of capers or pickles adds complexity, making the drink taste like alcohol! We use the same idea in our Virgin Margarita and it really works. (Try it!)
- Option 2: Use plain syrup. Some lime recipes use a sweetener, but purists usually leave it out. However, it makes a delicious lime drink: almost like sparkling lemonade!
- Option 3: Leave with nothing. You can also make a Lime Rickey using just lime juice and sparkling water. It’s extremely refreshing and delicious.
All of these options are equally refreshing: we’ve tried them all! We support option 1 or 3; We find that this drink does not need any sweetener. But if you like sweet drinks, it makes the descent even easier!
Variation: Go for the fruity and try cherry or raspberry!
The lime Rickey has inspired many variations and flavors. You can get creative and use any flavored cocktail syrup you like. Adding fruity syrups is a fun way to make the drink even more festive… and even better! Here are some of our favorite ideas:
- Cherry Lime Rickey Bright red sweet cherries go hand in hand with lime and make a great sweet cake variation
- Rickey Raspberry Lime Sweet Raspberry tastes amazing and is a party drink!
Other cocktails that are daring variations
The Lime Rickey is just one in a long line of sparkling highball cocktails! There are many twists and turns on this concept with different alcohols. If you like this one, you’ll especially like a Vodka Soda or a Ranch Water. Here are some popular variations of the Rickey:
When to serve a Lime Rickey
Sparkling and refreshing, Lime Rickey works like a cocktail or mocktail! It is ideal for use as:
- summer drink
- afternoon drink
- Aperitif (starter)
- Aperitif at aperitif time
The description
Lime Rickey is an outrageously refreshing drink that works as a cocktail or mocktail! It tastes just as good with gin or virgin.*
- 1½ ounce (3 tablespoons) fresh lime juice*
- For a cocktail: 3 ounces of gin or whiskey
For a non-alcoholic cocktail: ¼ teaspoon caper juice or cucumber juice**, ½ ounce simple syrup or omit entirely - 4 oz (½ cup) Carbonated water
- Ice to serve (try clear ice)
- For garnish: lime wedges
- Add lime juice and alcoholic or non-alcoholic mixer (whiskey, gin, caper juice, or simple syrup) to a highball glass and stir.
- Top up with ice and top up with sparkling water. Garnish with lime wedges.
- Category: drink
- Method: shakes
- Kitchen: cocktails
- Diet: vegan
