Gin Rickey Recipe

This Gin Rickey Recipe is the less sweet and lower calorie version of the Gin and Tonic you love. It’s a delicious simple low calorie cocktail that you could make so many different variations of.

a tall glass with ice filled with a gin rickey, garnished with a lime wedge and with a metal straw - 3

It seems like the older I get the more I’m looking for cocktails that are delicious and refreshing, but aren’t overly sweet. That is, perhaps, why I love this Gin Rickey so very much. A highball drink that dates back to the 1900s, you just can’t go wrong with the classic gin rickey recipe.

It also doesn’t hurt that doesn’t break the calorie bank for just one cocktail. This delicious gin rickey recipe is only 138 calories per glass. You will love the cool crisp taste of this delicious drink!

How to Make a Gin Rickey

This is a brief overview of how simple this cocktail is. In fact it is so easy, you really don’t even need instructions. For the full measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Fill a highball glass with ice.
Add the gin and lime juice. See my recommendations below.
Top with club soda. Give the cocktail a light stir to combine everything and enjoy!

Gin for Gin Rickey

When looking for gin to use in a cocktail, there are a number of great options at different price points. While all of these options are fantastic, consider that gin is a focal point of this cocktail, so you really want to pick one that you love.

My number one pick for gin is always Bombay Sapphire . It is just a personal preference, and fortunately it tends to be on the lower end when it comes to price.
If you are looking to go all out for gin, you will want to consider Monkey 47 . It is a high end gin.
If you want to get quality gin at a lower price point, look at Hendrick’s and Tanqueray .

club soda being poured into a gin rickey - 4

Fresh Lime Juice

Anytime you are making really any recipe, the fresher your ingredients the more delicious your recipe is going to turn out. There is a wide range of where this is more or less important. Sometimes lack of freshness can really break a recipe and other times it makes a barely noticeable difference.

Cocktails are one of the things that I’m on the fence with when it comes to freshness. I will always suggest that you use fresh lime juice for the most peek perfect cocktail. But that being said, this recipe is truly delicious with bottled lime juice as well. So I will leave it up to you, bottled juice is quite convenient and delicious, but fresh lime juice is always better.

Club Soda

I love adding Club Soda to cocktails. It is a great way to add some sparkle without adding any calories. Club soda often has minerals added to it, unlike sparkling water. The amount you can taste the minerals can vary from brand to brand. If you can taste them, and don’t enjoy them, you can use sparkling water instead.

pulled back view of two glasses full of gin rickey recipe with shaker and bottle of Bombay sapphire gin in the background - 5

Gin and Tonic Vs. Gin Rickey

As I mentioned, a Gin Rickey cocktail is basically just the lighter, lower calorie version of the Gin and Tonic . Instead of using tonic water, which is sweetened, we are using club soda. Then to add another layer of flavor, we are adding some fresh lime juice.

The Perfect Gin and Tonic Recipe

Variations and Substitutions

With a recipe as simple as this, you can dress up your Gin Rickey a million different ways.

Use flavored sparkling water instead of club soda. There are some really great flavors out there that will pair perfectly with the lime and gin.
In summertime, juice up a watermelon! Lime and watermelon go great together as we know from my Watermelon Margarita . Throwing in a splash of watermelon juice here is a fun way to change it up.
Muddle some fruit with the lime juice. Not only will it add some fun flavor to your drink, it will add a bit of color. Strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries would all be great choices.

close up view of a gin rickey cocktail in a tall glass garnished with a lime wedge - 6

Other Low Calorie Cocktails

If you are looking to enjoy a cocktail on the weekend without over-doing the sugar in your diet, here are some other great options.

Vodka Soda
Paloma
White Wine Spritzer
Low Calorie Mojito

If you try this amazing gin cocktail or any of my other drinks, leave me a comment and let me know!

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Ingredients

2 ounces gin I love Bombay Saphire
1 ounce lime juice
3 ounces club soda chilled

Instructions

Combine the gin and lime juice in a high ball glass filled with ice.
Top with club soda. Stir to combine.

a tall glass with ice filled with a gin rickey, garnished with a lime wedge and with a metal straw - 7

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