Gin Rickey Recipe (Low Calorie!) - Simple Joy (2024)

05 minutes

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5 from 1 vote

by Lisa Longley

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posted: 02/02/24

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Jump to Recipe

by Lisa Longley

|

posted: 02/02/24

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Jump to 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 co*cktail that you could make so many different variations of.

Gin Rickey Recipe (Low Calorie!) - Simple Joy (2)
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It seems like the older I get the more I’m looking for co*cktails 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 co*cktail. 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 co*cktail 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.

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

Gin for Gin Rickey

When looking for gin to use in a co*cktail, 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 co*cktail, 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.
Gin Rickey Recipe (Low Calorie!) - Simple Joy (3)

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.

co*cktails 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 co*cktail. 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 co*cktails. 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.

Gin Rickey Recipe (Low Calorie!) - Simple Joy (4)

Gin and Tonic Vs. Gin Rickey

As I mentioned, a Gin Rickey co*cktail is basically just the lighter, lower calorie version of theGin 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

This Gin and Tonic Recipe takes the classic co*cktail to new heights with the perfect gin and tonic ratio. A refreshing co*cktail made with only two ingredients, you will want to save this one and make it again and again.

view 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.
Gin Rickey Recipe (Low Calorie!) - Simple Joy (6)

Other Low Calorie co*cktails

If you are looking to enjoy a co*cktail 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 co*cktail or any of my other drinks, leave me a comment and let me know!

Gin Rickey Recipe (Low Calorie!) - Simple Joy (7)

5 from 1 vote

Gin Rickey Recipe

Serves: 1 co*cktail

(tap # to scale)

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Total: 5 minutes minutes

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

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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.

Serving: 1co*cktail Calories: 138kcal (7%) Carbohydrates: 2g (1%) Protein: 0.1g Fat: 0.02g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g Sodium: 19mg (1%) Potassium: 36mg (1%) Fiber: 0.1g Sugar: 0.5g (1%) Vitamin A: 14IU Vitamin C: 9mg (11%) Calcium: 8mg (1%) Iron: 0.1mg (1%)

Author: Lisa Longley

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Gin Rickey Recipe (Low Calorie!) - Simple Joy (8)

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Gin Rickey Recipe

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you may also like…

  • Gin Martini Recipe
  • French 75 Recipe
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  • Gin Fizz

Gin Rickey Recipe (Low Calorie!) - Simple Joy (13)

Gin Rickey Recipe (Low Calorie!) - Simple Joy (14)

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Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

    LEAVE A COMMENT

  1. Meredith A DeVoe says

    Gin Rickey Recipe (Low Calorie!) - Simple Joy (16)
    I do love this but I usually load it up with a lot more soda water.

    Reply

Gin Rickey Recipe (Low Calorie!) - Simple Joy (2024)

FAQs

How many calories in a gin rickey? ›

However, if rich craft beer and decadent co*cktails are starting to load you down, consider the gin rickey: a mix of gin, lime juice, and soda water. In one gin rickey, there are 115 calories, about 1 carbohydrate, and a negligible amount of sugar and sodium.

What's the difference between a gin tonic and a gin rickey? ›

The main difference between a gin rickey and a gin and tonic is the use of club soda in lieu of tonic water. But a rickey also gets a squeeze of lime juice in addition to a lime garnish.

What is the healthiest mixer for gin? ›

11 of the best low-calorie and low-sugar mixers for gin:
  • Aqua Libra Fruit-infused Sparkling Water. Save. ...
  • TwelveBelow Tonics. ...
  • PURA Soda Cucumber & Lime. ...
  • Upstream Grapefruit & Bergamot. ...
  • Nexba Strawberry & Peach Kefir. ...
  • Dash Water Rhubarb & Ginger Soda Water. ...
  • The Artisan Drinks Co. ...
  • London Essence Pomelo & Pink Pepper Tonic Water.

How many calories in a gin and low calorie tonic? ›

A gin & tonic is one of the UK's favourite drinks, but due to the added sugars of tonic water, a typical 210ml serving can contain about 170 calories. A similar 210ml serving of gin & slimline tonic contains just 115 calories, saving you an average of 55 calories per glass.

Why is gin so high in calories? ›

So, because gin has a high alcohol content, it's high in calories too. All alcohol – including the alcohol in gin - is made from natural starch and sugar. That means a single measure (25ml) by itself typically contains about 52 calories - almost as much as a chocolate chip cookie (57 calories).

Is gin and tonic the lowest calorie drink? ›

Firstly, neat gin is one of the lowest-calorie options you can choose. A 25ml measure of gin has just 54 calories. If you add a regular, non-diet option tonic to your gin, that rises to 97 calories when made with a 37.5 ABV gin*, which is similar to a single buttered crumpet.

How many calories in a gin and tonic drink? ›

On a standard Gin tonic co*cktail, including 25cl (8,5oz) containing 5cl (1,6oz) gin and 20cl (6,7oz) tonic water, the total calorie amount is about 190. This amount may vary depending on the co*cktail type or on the drink trademarks. Let's take a look on your most common questions.

Does a rickey have sugar? ›

The Rickey is a highball made from gin or bourbon, lime juice, and carbonated water. Little or no sugar is added to the rickey. It was created with bourbon in 1883 by bartender Jared Bangura in Danvers, Massachusetts, at Rand Circle, purportedly in collaboration with Democratic lobbyist Colonel Joe Rickey.

What is the gin rickey in The Great Gatsby? ›

The gin rickey was actually featured in F. Scott Fitzgerald's “The Great Gatsby.” In it, Daisy and Gatsby take “long, greedy swallows” of their gin-and-lime concoctions. Pour lime juice and gin into an old-fashioned glass over ice cubes. Fill with carbonated water and stir.

What is a zero calorie gin mixer? ›

0 kcal/150ml For a simple, calorie-free mixer, pair your gin with soda water. Add a squeeze of lemon or lime and a sprig of fresh mint for a zesty twist.

Is gin worse for your liver than other alcohol? ›

Myth 3: Drinking hard liquor is worse than drinking beer or wine. Contrary to popular belief, the type of alcohol you drink doesn't make a difference – what matters is how much you drink. "The safe limit is fixed at 14 units a week," explains Dr Lui. "Below this limit, alcoholic fatty liver is less likely to occur.

Is gin less fattening than vodka? ›

Vodka is the alcohol with the lowest calories, at around 100 calories per shot (that's a 50ml double-measure). Whisky is slightly more, at roughly 110 calories a shot. Gin and tequila are also 110 calories a shot.

Is it okay to have a gin and tonic every day? ›

There is a simple answer to the question - is it OK to drink gin every day? No, it's not recommended to drink alcohol every day! And to the related question - Is gin a healthy drink? - here are some facts and figures to make sure your intake of gin isn't unhealthy!

What alcohol has the least calories? ›

As you can see, vodka is the lowest calorie spirit, and tequila is a close second. However, alcohol isn't the only contributor to weight gain. What you mix with your drink also impacts the calories you consume. Therefore, here are some tips for shaving calories from your next co*cktail.

How many calories in a gin rickey vs gin and tonic? ›

Swap your gin and tonic (193 calories) for a gin rickey (146 calories). A gin and tonic is a global classic, but because tonic water contains added sugars, a typical serving can come in at about 193 calories. But if you're a gin lover seeking a slightly lighter alternative, you could ask for a gin rickey.

How many calories in a gin rickey desolation? ›

There are 115 calories in 1 co*cktail of Gin Rickey.

How many calories in a standard shot of gin? ›

Calorie count - Alcoholic beverages
BEVERAGESERVING SIZECALORIES
Distilled Alcohol
Gin (80 proof)1.5 oz (45 ml)97
Gin (94 proof)1.5 oz (45 ml)116
Rum (80 proof)1.5 oz (45 ml)97
53 more rows
Jun 22, 2022

What is a gin rickey made of? ›

Squeeze lime into the glass, getting as much juice out of it as you can. Toss in the lime shell, then add gin. Top off glass with club soda. The rickey doesn't need it, but if you like a sweeter drink, add splash of simple syrup.

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