Gin Rickey

Serve in a

Garnish:

Length of lime peel

How to make:

SHAKE first 3 ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled glass. TOP with soda.

Review:

Clean, sharp and refreshing. Please don't serve this in a Collins glass, it should be "a short drink served long" in a 10oz Highball or Fizz glass.

Variant:

Vodka Rickey, Apricot Rickey

History:

Believed to have been created by bartender George A. Williamson in 1880 at Shoemaker's Bar in Washington DC and named after Colonel Joseph Kyle Rickey, a Democratic lobbyist who it is said Williamson witnessed squeeze lime into his whisky before topping his drink with soda. Coincidentally or not, Colonel Rickey purchased the bar in 1883 and went on to become a major importer of limes into the US.

The Gin Rickey cocktail first appeared in print in Harry Johnson's 1882 Bartenders Manual where Harry calls for a "medium size fizz glass" to be used with "1 or 2 pieces of ice; squeeze the juice of 1 good-sized lime or 2 small ones; 1 wine glass of Tom or Holland gin if required; Fill up glass with club soda, carbonic or selters if required, and serve with a spoon."

Many confuse the Rickey and the Collins. For the record, a Rickey is made with lime juice and a Collins with lemon juice. A Rickey is also usually served in a shorter glass than a Collins but that difference is secondary.

Nutrition:

One serving of Gin Rickey contains 133 calories.

Alcohol content:

• 1.1 standard drinks
• 18.36% alc./vol. (36.72° proof)
• 15.6 grams of pure alcohol