PREP TIME 3 min
Stocking up on Gin Rickey cocktail ingredients is a very smart move if you’re headed into summer and can tell it’s going to be a hot one. This light, zesty cocktail is very quick and simple to whip up and pairs well with just about anything, from summer BBQ treats, to fresh salads and delicious seafood dishes.
Fill a tall glass or rocks glass with ice
Pour the gin and lime juice over the ice and stir
Top with the soda water and stir gently
Garnish with a lime wheel and a sprig of fresh mint
Serve
Why yes, it is! Arguably one of the most popular summer gin cocktails around the globe, this pretty drink is tailor-made for those sweltering days when all you can think about is an ice-cold cocktail that will cool you off without weighing you down.
During summer, many people like to keep things on the lighter end of the spectrum, which is why the caloric value of the cocktail, at 146 calories, is quite a nice deal. Folks who are focussed on staying trim often reduce the gin to 45 ml instead of two shots, which brings the calories of this drink down to 114 calories. Either way, the drink only contains a single gram of carbohydrates, which comes from the lime juice.
However, you don’t need to count calories to enjoy this easy sipper. The fresh and zesty combination of lime juice and club soda, underpinned by the herbaceous nature of a good gin, is a match made in cocktail heaven.
Speaking of the spirit, the best gin for this drink is a London Dry Gin. It is smooth and flavourful, thanks to the distillation process it undergoes, and always adds a beautiful ‘green’ note to any drink. This is particularly important in cocktails like these since there are very few ingredients, so each one you add really has to shine.
The best gin cocktails are always quite adaptable to personal taste, and this one is certainly not an exception. Here are a few ways in which you can tailor the cocktail to suit your preferences or those of your guests:
Add flavoured mineral water: A great variety of flavoured mineral waters is available on the market today. If you want to add some more flavour notes to your drink without upping the caloric content, this is a great option. In fact, you could get a selection of three or four sparkling mineral waters and offer your guests a choice. Think along the lines of strawberry, cranberry, cucumber, etc.
Swap out the lime juice: Keen to go a little sweeter? Switching out the lime juice for pineapple- or cranberry juice is a tasty option. Sure, it won’t technically be a Gin Rickey once you do, but the great thing about cocktail-making is that you can put your personal touch on anything you make, so go ahead and give it a brand-new name. Perhaps your own…?
