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Drinks & Beverages United States
Johnny Rickey
Rooted in the United States, Johnny Rickey is a cocktail enjoyed for generations.
About Johnny Rickey
Rooted in the United States, Johnny Rickey is a cocktail enjoyed for generations. The dish is built around lime and rum.
History & Culture
The Johnny Rickey belongs to the Rickey family of cocktails, which originated in Washington, D.C., during the 1880s, when the original gin-and-lime version was created and named after a local lobbyist, Colonel Joe Rickey. The Johnny Rickey swaps gin for rum, a variation whose specific origins are debated, as no single inventor or debut date is firmly established in historical records.
Regional variations reflect the rum's coastal and Caribbean associations, offering a sweeter, more tropical contrast to the Washington classic's sharp gin character. Culturally, the Rickey's enduring appeal lies in its simplicity - lime, spirit, and soda - embodying an American preference for refreshing, low-sugar drinks that has kept the Johnny Rickey a modest but persistent favorite in cocktail guides.
How to make Johnny Rickey
AI-assisted, not kitchen-testedClassic Rickey (Johnny Rickey) Cocktail
A classic American cocktail attributed to Colonel Joe Rickey of Washington, D.C. The 'Johnny' version subscribes rum for the traditional bourbon, with crisp lime and sparkling soda building a refreshing, bracing drink built around rum and lime.
- Prep
- 3 min
- Total
- 3 min
- Serves
- 1 cocktail
- Difficulty
- Easy
Recipe ingredients
- 60 ml (2 fl oz) white rum, Cuban-style or any dry light rum; use bourbon for an authentic Rickey
- 22 ml (¾ fl oz) fresh lime juice, from 1 large or 2 small limes; do not substitute bottled
- 5 g (1 tsp) superfine sugar, or 1 bar spoon simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water)
- 120 ml (4 fl oz) club soda, chilled, for topping
- 1 whole lime wedge, for garnish and squeezing into the glass
Steps
- 1 Add the superfine sugar to a chilled highball or Collins glass.
- 2 Pour in the fresh lime juice and stir briefly to dissolve the sugar.
- 3 Add the white rum and stir once to combine.
- 4 Fill the glass three-quarters full with large ice cubes (do not use crushed ice, which dilutes too fast).
- 5 Top with chilled club soda, pouring slowly to preserve carbonation. Give one gentle stir.
- 6 Squeeze the lime wedge over the top of the drink, drop it into the glass, and serve immediately.
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Where to eat it
In the old bars of Washington, D.C., locals sip this lime and rum highball during sweltering summer afternoons as a cooling break from the humid sidewalks.
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Johnny Rickey - frequently asked questions
What is Johnny Rickey?
Rooted in the United States, Johnny Rickey is a cocktail enjoyed for generations. The dish is built around lime and rum.
What is Johnny Rickey made of?
Johnny Rickey is made with lime and rum.
Where does Johnny Rickey come from?
Johnny Rickey comes from United States. The Johnny Rickey belongs to the Rickey family of cocktails, which originated in Washington, D.C., during the 1880s, when the original gin-and-lime version was created and named after a local lobbyist, Colonel Joe Rickey.
Where can I eat Johnny Rickey?
In the old bars of Washington, D.C., locals sip this lime and rum highball during sweltering summer afternoons as a cooling break from the humid sidewalks.
How do you make Johnny Rickey?
Making Johnny Rickey at home takes about 3 minutes of prep. The recipe on this page serves 1 cocktail and is rated easy. Full ingredient list and step-by-step method are in the recipe section above.
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