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

We Think You’ll Need These Rickey Cocktails Tomorrow

By

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.

Recommended 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.

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.

Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
Show your Wicked side with these mezcal cocktails for Oscars night
Whether you're Team Galinda or Team Elphaba
Mezcal Union-4

If you're getting ready for the biggest movie awards night of the year tomorrow, we've already given you some Oscars-themed cocktails to try. But for those of you who are cheering on Wicked in particular, we've got some fun color coordinated drinks to celebrate the surprising musical smash of the year.

These drinks from Mezcal Unión come in the signature green or pink shades of Elphaba and Galinda, making use of matcha powder and Peychaud Bitters to give a colorful twist to these tasty concoctions. There's a twist on a traditional Margarita using mezcal in place of tequila, and a take on the Clover Club which uses mezcal rather than gin. Cheers to Wicked's 10 Oscar nominations!
The Bad Witch

Read more
A rich and moody cocktail to celebrate Conclave’s Oscars nominations
If you're cheering on Ralph Fiennes for Best Actor, raise a toast
Ralph Fiennes in Conclave.

It's Oscars weekend, which is a great excuse for catching up on some widely acclaimed movies, having some friends round, and enjoying the glitz and glamor of this year's event. We've shared Oscars themed cocktails and some Wicked cocktails too, but if you're stanning hard for Ralph Fiennes and his best actor nomination, then we have a drink just for you.

Fiennes impressed everyone, it seems, with his turn in Papal drama Conclave, and he's up for an award along with his co-star Isabella Rossellini, nominated for best supporting actress, as well as the film scoring nominations for costume, editing, music, production, and of course the all-important Best Picture.

Read more
This frozen espresso martini recipe proves everything tastes better frozen
An elevated form of your favorite coffee cocktail
frozen espresso martini

Frozen drinks are usually associated with summer, and I understand why. There's nothing like sipping on a pina colada or even a wine frosé poolside while you soak up the sun. But just like I still drink hot coffee in the summer or iced coffee in the winter, there's still a place for frozen cocktails in your life year-round. I recently tried a frozen espresso martini, proving that everything tastes better. Perfect for a post-dinner snack or a refreshing game night drink to serve amongst friends, there's never a bad time a frozen espresso martini. This recipe is worth drinking in any weather, whether hot or cold.
How to make a frozen espresso martini

The espresso martini is one of those cocktails with dozens of variations. Some recipes are creamier, whereas others have a heavier espresso taste. Some variations use other types of liquor instead of vodka or recipes with specialty flavors, such as pumpkin spice espresso martini.

Read more