Cocktails

Gin Rickey

Gin Rickey is an alcoholic cocktail built on Gin. It leans citrus, tart and sparkling. Served in a Highball Glass. Expect about 15.3% ABV and roughly 153 kcal (estimated per recipe).

Reviewed by the WhatDrink Editorial TeamHow we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction

Cocktailalcoholic15.3% ABV5 ingredients

At a Glance

153 kcalCalories

15.3%ABV

3.5gSugar

4.5gCarbs

1.46Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition. Some ingredient data may be approximate.

These nutrition figures are approximate estimates for this recipe — actual values vary with your exact measures, brands and serving size.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Easybuilt drink

Why: 5 ingredients, uses syrup

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

2 ozGinBase Spirit
1 tspGrenadineSweetener
Juice of 1/2lemonFruit
Top up withSoda WaterMixer
GarnishLimeFruit

How to Make It

Half-fill a tall glass with ice.Fill
Mix the gin and Grenadine together and pour over the ice.Pour
Add the lime or lemon juice and top off with soda water.Top
Decorate the glass with lime and/or lemon slices.

How to Serve

Glass: Highball Glass
Temperature: Chilled
Ice: Ice

Served Chilled

Taste profile

Primary flavours

Citrus Tart Sparkling

Supporting notes

Botanical Herbal Juniper

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong

BodyLight – Full

SweetnessDry – Sweet

AcidityFlat – Crisp

FruitinessEarthy – Fruity

BoldnessDelicate – Bold

Bright and citrusy
Fruity and vibrant

What do these dimensions mean?

When to serve

SummerSuggested from its citrus and sparkling notes.
Seafood DinnerSuggested from its lemon and citrus notes, pairing with ceviche and seafood.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

Seafood Ceviche Salads

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-Free Vegan Vegetarian

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Gin2 oz

VodkaKnown variation

How much to use: Use the same volume; expect less juniper and botanical aroma.
What changes: Vodka can replace gin when you want a cleaner, less botanical drink, but it usually changes the cocktail identity.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Grenadine1 tsp

Fresh GrenadineGood swap

How much to use: Use the same amount.
What changes: Fresh grenadine is usually a close substitute for grenadine.

Pomegranate SyrupWorks, with a noticeable change

How much to use: Use the same amount, then adjust sweetness if needed.
What changes: Pomegranate syrup can replace grenadine when a more pomegranate-forward flavor is acceptable.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Soda WaterTop up with

Carbonated WaterGood swap

How much to use: Use the same amount.
What changes: Carbonated water is usually a close substitute for soda water.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Club SodaGood swap

How much to use: Use the same amount.
What changes: Club soda is usually a close substitute for soda water.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Sparkling WaterGood swap

How much to use: Use the same amount.
What changes: Sparkling water is usually a close substitute for soda water.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Tonic WaterNot a neutral swap

How much to use: Use only if you want a tonic-style drink.
What changes: Tonic water is not a neutral replacement for soda water; it adds bitterness and sweetness.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated July 12, 2026

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

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Related searches

Try alcohol-freeBrowse mocktails and zero-ABV alternatives.Make it lighterTry a longer serve style, more ice, soda, tonic or a lower-ABV alternative.Lower the caloriesCompare with drinks that sit lower on estimated calories per serve.Make it simplerTry drinks with three ingredients or fewer.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a Gin Rickey?: The Gin Rickey is a cocktail made with 5 ingredients, traditionally served in a Highball Glass. It has an ABV of approximately 15.3%. A standard serving contains approximately 153 calories.
What does a Gin Rickey taste like?: Gin Rickey has a flavour profile featuring Citrus, Tart, Sparkling. The exact taste varies depending on the brands and measures used.
What food goes well with a Gin Rickey?: Gin Rickey pairs well with Seafood, Ceviche, Salads. The pairing is based on complementary flavour profiles from the recipe's ingredients.
How strong is a Gin Rickey?: The Gin Rickey has an ABV of approximately 15.3%. That's approximately 1.46 US standard drinks. This recipe is estimated to contain 153 kcal, 3.5g sugar, 4.5g carbs. Strength varies depending on the exact measures and ingredients used.
When is a Gin Rickey typically served?: Gin Rickey is often suggested for Seafood Dinner, Summer, based on its flavour profile and typical serve.
What drinks are similar to a Gin Rickey?: If you enjoy Gin Rickey, the "similar flavour profile" suggestions on this page point to cocktails that share its flavour character. Drinks with a matching spirit base and comparable body and acidity feel closest.
Can I make a Gin Rickey at home?: Yes. The Gin Rickey uses 5 ingredients, making it straightforward to prepare at home. You will need a Highball Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?: Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Body (light to full), Dryness (sweet to bone dry), Acidity (flat to crisp), Fruitiness (subtle to prominent) and Boldness (delicate to bold). Each scale helps you compare cocktails at a glance and find ones with similar character.
How do I use sensory profiles to find cocktails I like?: Compare the Body, Acidity and Fruitiness of Gin Rickey with other cocktails. If you enjoy this drink, look for others with a similar profile. Adjust one dimension at a time to discover new favourites while staying in your flavour comfort zone.