Joe Rickey
A foundational American highball, born from the sweltering political climate of late 19th-century Washington D.C., combining American whiskey, fresh lime, and sparkling water.
12%
ABV
144
Calories
Highball
Glass
Flavor Profile
Flavor Journey
Ingredients
Each component plays a crucial role.
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Fill a highball or Collins glass to the top with ice.
Squeeze the juice from half a lime directly into the glass.
Drop the spent lime shell into the glass.
Pour the whiskey over the ice and lime.
Top with chilled soda water.
Give a brief, gentle stir to integrate the ingredients.
Glassware
Served in a highball or Collins glass
Garnish
The squeezed lime shell
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
The defining characteristic of a Rickey is the absence of sugar. Adding sugar turns it into a Whiskey Collins.
Use high-quality, highly carbonated soda water, and make sure it's well-chilled.
A gentle stir is all that is needed to integrate the ingredients without losing carbonation.
Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Joe Rickey.
Other Variations
Tequila Rickey (Ranch Water)
A hugely popular variation, especially in Texas, using tequila, lime juice, and sparkling mineral water.
Changes
History & Heritage
“The Joe Rickey was created in the 1880s at Shoomaker's Saloon in Washington D.C. for Colonel Joe Rickey, a Democratic lobbyist. Seeking a refreshing, unsweetened drink to combat the city's summer heat, he instructed the bartender to combine his usual bourbon and sparkling water with the juice of half a lime. The drink's defining characteristic is the absence of sugar.”
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Gin Rickey
A no-sugar highball of gin, lime, and sparkling water—crisp, tart, and ultra-refreshing.
Kentucky Mule
Bourbon buck—bourbon, lime, and spicy ginger beer over ice in a frosty copper mug.
Tequila Soda
A paragon of minimalist cocktail construction, offering a clean, crisp, and unadulterated expression of tequila. This simple yet profound combination of tequila, soda water, and fresh lime stands at the confluence of the global tequila boom and the health-conscious drinking movement.