Cocktail Party

Gin Rickey (Is It a Sin to Drink Gin Before Noon?)

by:
August 30, 2009
4
6 Ratings
Gin Rickey (Is It a Sin to Drink Gin Before Noon?)
Photo by Julia Gartland
  • Prep time 5 minutes
  • Serves 2
Author Notes

I hate tonic so I drink my gin with lime juice. I believe that agave nectar is a godsend to cocktail-making because it's less bother than simple syrup and it gives you the sense that you are doing something healthy; what with its low glycemic index. Today I garnished my drink with basil instead of mint because it's the last day of my family's summer rental and we're eating down the fridge. Being Italian cooks we always have basil, we rarely use mint. The two are, in fact, quite similar. —Giulia Melucci

Test Kitchen Notes

This recipe is featured in the story, The *Even* Simpler Simple Syrup Your Cocktails Have Been Waiting For, sponsored by Agave In The Raw. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 3 ounces gin
  • 4 ounces fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 4 ounces seltzer
  • 1 tablespoon Agave In The Raw
  • 2 sprigs mint or basil
  • 2 pieces lime
Directions
  1. Pour all liquid ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain into two glasses filled with ice. Garnish each glass with a sprig of mint or basil and a slice of lime.
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13 Reviews

Melissa Y.
Melissa Y. July 17, 2023
It is definitively not a sin to drink gin before noon when brunching! This is a refreshing limeade style cocktail that hides the gin with the published proportions. Since we like gin, we would probably cut back on the lime juice moving forward, but if you make it for a gin newbie or hater, make it exactly as written and show them the light!
 
Coffeecat
Coffeecat May 7, 2014
Just following up on the questions about Agave Nectar, it's very widely available now as many have noted - Trader Joe's, Publix etc. For cocktails I prefer the light to the dark because you aren't using it to add strong flavor but gentle sweetness. The other reason to use it (and why not to use Stevia, which can also be bitter) is for texture - it adds a slight unctuousness that even simple syrup doesn't provide. It's worth making the effort.
And regarding the question about shaking with the club soda - NEVER shake a cocktail with seltzer. Shake the other ingredients with ice, add the soda/seltzer after
 
HeatherHodges
HeatherHodges March 3, 2014
I've bought agave nectar at Walmart, both light and dark. It's in the sugar section.
 
Dolores
Dolores March 1, 2014
They have agave nectar at our Publix grocery market in Florida.
 
La M.
La M. August 10, 2013
No, it's not a sin. Trust. And I am so going for the agave nectar, if I can find it...right there with you, too lazy to make simple syrup
 
emery
emery May 27, 2012
gin rickeys do not have a sweetener
 
AynRandySavage
AynRandySavage May 23, 2012
Really shake with the seltzer? That sounds volatile.
 
NM E.
NM E. April 26, 2011
What's the difference between a Gin Rickey & a Gimlet?
 
Cherageo
Cherageo April 11, 2011
Would it still be as good with Stevia? Low cal natural sweetner? Any thoughts?
 
Giulia M.
Giulia M. April 11, 2011
Yes, my thought is it would not be as good.
 
Ecuacan
Ecuacan April 10, 2011
You can get Agave Nectar at Costco at a fration of the price I've seen in some health food stores. I use it on everything - oatmeal, pancakes, in my coffee. Still high in carbs, but yes, doesn't spike your blood sugar the way sugar does.
 
Waverly
Waverly October 21, 2010
It's 5 o'clock somewhere!
 
zerolev
zerolev September 12, 2010
I pretty sure I have seen agave nectar at Trader Joe's...