Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

We Think You’ll Need These Rickey Cocktails Tomorrow

Sam Slaughter
By

rickey
No matter what side of the aisle you fall on, tomorrow is inauguration day and we think you’ll need some drinks.

Perhaps in celebration, perhaps in utter sadness—either way, we’re not judging. We’re merely here to give you something to drink. On the occasion of a presidential inauguration, then, it seems fitting that we offer up these four versions of Washington D.C.’s official cocktail, the Rickey.

Related Videos

The Rickey dates back to the 1880s, where George A. Williamson of Shoomaker’s bar was said to have created the highball drink made with bourbon, carbonated water, and lime. After his original creation, some people added sugar. It is alleged that the name comes from Democratic lobbyist Colonel Joe Rickey and the drink itself soared in popularity when, a few years later, it was remade with gin.

Related

Now, with the history lesson out of the way, it’s time to get your drink on. All of the cocktails below were created at The Rickey in New York, made by all-star bartender Johnny Swet.

Colonel Joe Rickey

  • 2 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon
  • .75 oz lime juice
  • .75 oz honey
  • Grilled Lime
  • Splash of Ginger ale
  • Honey cracked peppercorns

Method: Mix all ingredients together. Top with a grilled wedge of lime and four mint sprigs. Top with Ginger ale. Serve in a tall glass.

The Pomegranate Rickey

Method: Mix all ingredients together. Top with ice cube and lime wedge.

Pomegranate Ice Cube: Take an ice mold and fill with water, sprinkle with pomegranate seeds, and freeze. Use as a substitute for regular ice cubes.

The Cartel Rickey

  • 1.5 oz Sailor Jerry rum
  • 1.5 oz Fresh pineapple juice
  • .25 oz Agave
  • .25 oz Lime juice
  • 6 Colombian coffee beans
  • Coconut water (for ice cubes)

Method: Muddle three of the Colombian coffee beans. Add rum, pineapple juice, agave and lime juice. Shake and fine strain into rocks glass with the coconut water ice cube.

Coconut Water Ice Cube: take an ice mold and fill with coconut water, sprinkle with coffee beans, and freeze. Use as a substitute for regular ice cubes.

Gin Rickey at The Rickey

Method: Top with soda. Add Lime wedge.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
How to Make the Controversial Singapore Sling Cocktail
Singapore Sling

Many classic cocktails have an uncertain history due to a lack of record-keeping, or a long game of telephone where one name, or ingredient, was inaccurately transformed into another over the course of time. The Singapore Sling, however, might be the most convoluted of all because of the myriad of ingredients it contains, but there are a few things that have been uncovered thus far. For starters, the cocktail isn't even a sling.

According to renowned cocktail historian David Wondrich — who has done the work of the cocktail gods by sifting through various texts and archives to unravel when and where the cocktail originated, and what was originally in it — there are a few ingredients that are a part of the recipe for certain. Gin, a cherry brandy (kirschwasser style), Bénédictine, lime juice, and a few dashes of bitters seem to be the constants based on a mention of this particular formula in the Singapore Weekly Sun in 1915.

Read more
8 Grilled Cocktails To Enjoy This Labor Day Weekend
grilled cocktails labor day peach cocktail

“Labor Day” and “barbecue” are obviously two very harmonious concepts, and we’re pleased to inform you that char-grilled goodness doesn’t have to be restricted to the food portion of your LDW menu. Fire-toasted fruits and herbs also make brilliant additions to cocktails, and the eight “grilled” libations that we’ve included in this round-up all deliver big flavors and high levels of refreshment.
Grilled Peach Smash
(By Ian Mendelsohn, beverage director, Alma Cocina, Atlanta, Georgia)

The sweet-and-savory flavor sensation evoked by grilled peaches feels summery in a way that few other tastes manage to pull off, and in this cocktail, beverage director Ian Mendelsohn ups the ante by adding bourbon. “The grilled peach smash is among the most classic of cocktails.The differences between the smash and the julep have been debated for years, but everyone agrees that this is a tremendous cocktail to enjoy with friends on a hot summer day,” Mendelsohn explains.

Read more
This New Cocktail Book Brings The Art Of The Mocktail Into Your Home
new alinea mocktail book for at home mixing zero spread bbq

In this age of wellness and self-care, zero- and non-alcoholic beverages are gaining ground fast. Being more aware and in charge of your overall health is trendier than ever, and with the negative health effects of excessive alcohol consumption widely known, there is greater demand for drinks that taste like different kinds of tipples but without the heavy calories, nasty side-effects (read: hangovers), and health detriments. So, where once upon a time you might have had to make do with bland, alcohol-free beer, now there’s a wealth of options, from beer to spirits to yes, even cocktails. 

A mash-up of mock and cocktail, mocktails are coming in hot as a drinking trend, offering all the flair and flavor of a regular cocktail but without the booze. Fun and inventive, even drinkers who aren’t trying to lay off the booze can enjoy them. 

Read more