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Home » Classic Mocktails

Jun 13, 2023 by Kristin

Virgin Lime Rickey

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If you’re looking for a thirst quenching, refreshing mocktail then give this virgin lime Rickey a try. This classic and easy to make beverage is simple and delicious. It has a refreshing and zesty flavor and is perfect for those looking for a non-alcoholic option.

Virgin Lime Rickey with a lime wedge on the glass and ingredients in the background.
Jump to:
  • 🍹 What is a Virgin Lime Rickey?
  • ⭐ When to Make This Drink
  • 📖 Variations
  • 🥄 Equipment
  • 📋 Ingredients
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Instructions
  • Recipe

🍹 What is a Virgin Lime Rickey?

A virgin lime Rickey is an easy combination of lime juice, simple syrup and seltzer water. All you have to do to make this mocktail is add your ingredients into a glass and stir them gently. The result is a drink that is invigorating and sparkly with a light and crisp citrus flavor.

One of the great things about this drink is that while the recipe below is made as a mocktail, you can easily turn this into a cocktail by adding an ounce or two of gin or vodka.

Rickey drinks are a whole wine of cocktails which have been around for a long time and are very popular. There are many different variations on this drink.

This family of drinks originated in the late 1800s with the Gin Ricky. It was first made at a bar near Washington DC called schoomakers. It was reportedly made for a colonel named Joe Rickey hence the name of the cocktail (source)

If you’re looking for some reasons why you should stir up this delicious beverage, here are a few to consider:

  • It’s refreshing. Both the fizz and the light citrus twist in this drink provide a refreshing and invigorating drinking experience. It’s perfect for thirst quenching on a hot summer day.
  • Versatile. This drink is very versatile and easily customizable. It can be made as a mocktail such as the recipe below. Or, you can easily turn it into a cocktail by adding an ounce or two of your favorite spirit such as vodka or gin.
  • Fast to make. With only three ingredients this one is super easy to make especially since all the ingredients are very simple. If you have 3 minutes, then you have enough time to stir this one together

⭐ When to Make This Drink

This versatile mocktail is suitable for a wide array of different times. Here are a few suggestions for when you can serve it up:

  • Barbecues or picnics
  • Pool parties or beach days
  • Summer celebrations
  • Brunch

📖 Variations

While this easy to make, classic drink is already delicious as is, you might be looking for a few ways to change up the flavor or substitute ingredients. Here are a few tips to think about:

  • Give it a fruit flavor. Instead of using plain simple syrup, give it a fruit flavor by using a flavored simple syrup and make a raspberry lime Rickey, a strawberry lime Rickey or a cherry lime Rickey.
  • Turn it into a cocktail. Make this an alcoholic drink by adding a shot of gin or vodka.
  • Use flavored seltzer water. Add a light flavor to this drink by using a flavored Seltzer water. Some popular suggestions include lime, raspberry or orange.
  • Make it super fresh. Add a freshness to the strength by using fresh squeezed lime juice and making your own simple syrup so that it is fresh and even more refreshing.

🥄 Equipment

  • highball glass
  • jigger
  • cocktail shaker (optional)
  • Hawthorne strainer (optional)
  • bar spoon

📋 Ingredients

  • 2 oz Lime juice
  • .75 oz Simple syrup
  • 4 oz Seltzer water
  • Ice
Highball glass with ice next to spoon, jigger, simple syrup, lime juice and seltzer water.

👩🏻‍🍳 Instructions

Step one

Get this one started by gathering everything together. You’ll need a bar spoon, highball glass, ice, sugar, simple syrup, lime juice and seltzer water.

Step two

Next, make sure that your highball glass is filled up to the top with ice.

Pouring lime juice from a jigger into a glass.

Step three

Use a jigger to measure out 2 oz of lime juice. Then, toss this into the glass with the ice.

Step four

Use a jigger to measure up 0.75 oz of simple syrup. Then toss this into the glass with the ice and lime juice.

Pouring seltzer water into a glass.

Step four

Grab up your seltzer water and pour it directly into the glass until the glass is filled to the top.

Stirring a virgin lime rickey with a bar spoon.

Step Five

Get everything mixed up by using your bar spoon. Insert the spoon in the glass and stir well.

If you’d like to add a garnish, you should do that now. Slice a lime into wedges. Take one wedge and place it on the rim of the glass.

Recipe

Virgin Lime Rickey with a lime wedge on the glass and ingredients in the background.
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Lime Rickey

Prep Time3 minutes mins
Course: Drinks
Keyword: Lime Rickey
Servings: 1

Equipment

  • jigger
  • bar spoon
  • highball glass

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Lime Juice
  • .75 oz Simple Syrup
  • 4 oz Seltzer Water
  • Ice
Metric – US Customary

Instructions

  • Grab up some ice and dump it into the glass. The glass should be filled up to the brim.
  • Use the jigger to measure out 2 oz of lime juice. Then, pour the lime juice into the glass.
    *see below if you want to measure ingredients in tbs and cups instead of oz.
  • Use the jigger to measure out .75 oz of simple syrup. Then, pour the simple syrup into the glass.
  • Use the jigger to measure out 4 oz of seltzer water. Then, pour the seltzer water into the glass.
    Pro tip: save some time by just pouring the seltzer water directly into the glass to top it off instead of measuring.
  • Use the bar spoon to carefully stir the drink together.

Notes

Measurements:  if you want to use cups and tbs instead of a jigger to measure in ounces.
  • .25 cups of lime juice
  • 1 tbs of simple syrup
  • .5 cups of seltzer water

More Classic Mocktail Recipes

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  • Raspberry mojito mocktail on a wooden table with ingredients in the background.
    Raspberry Mojito Mocktail
  • Moscow mule mocktail on a wooden table with ingredients in the background.
    Moscow Mule Mocktail

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