Uploaded November 2016 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Learn how to make a Whiskey Rickey worthy of being called a James Bond cocktail using Canadian Club Rye, freshly-squeezed Lime Juice and Soda Water. The series, Cocktails and Pussy Galore, shows you how to drink like 007 using the Ian Fleming books (not the movies) as the source.
The Gin Rickey is, of course, the more famous of the The Rickey’s, and like the Tom Collins (youtu.be/AW3h1J9JTck), it started off as a different drink with a different base-spirit. The drink’s inventor, 19th-Century Washington lobbyist, Joe Rickey, insisted that it be made with whiskey. However, even in his lifetime, he had to fight against the public wanting to change his drink to a gin drink.
Bond would’ve certainly liked the gin version of the drink. He took his Gin & Tonic (youtu.be/4kDoh11QzQU) with an entire lime, which put it in the realm of a Gin Rickey. But he also would’ve appreciated Joe Rickey’s version. Despite the way he was portrayed in the movies, in the books Bond was a big whiskey drinker. He loved Bourbon and Blended Scotch the most, but he also drank Rye, even if it was only on one occasion. In Dr. No, while waiting for his buddy, Quarrel, and for the cover night, Bond sat in his hotel room drinking rye. More specifically, he was drinking a pint of Canadian Club Rye with ice and soda water. So, perhaps it was a Canadian Highball. It was a drink that Bond was enjoying alone, which means it was something he was drinking just because he wanted it. A lot of those occasions, Bond would be drinking something in public while in character or trying to show the room that he was different. It would be something where people would notice the weirdo who stopped the bartender and insisted that his Martinis be made with Vodka and that they be shaken, not stirred. But most of the time, those were made for show, but not this. Rye and soda he was drinking on his own time. If only he had some lime, he would've been able to make a Rickey.
The Rickey was invented in the 1880’s by Joe Rickey. He would instruct bartenders to make them for him and any Congressmen he happened to be entertaining. It was his signature drink and over the years, it started to catch on. However, bartenders and drinkers kept wanting to put gin in his drink. Near the end of his life he conceded that the Rickey could be made with gin or whiskey, but he always insisted that it be made without sugar. The Gin Rickey was the one that endured so well. The Whiskey Rickey, the original Rickey, doesn't get much air-time these days, but the gin cover song gets played.
I've found that the trick to the whiskey version is to give it a bigger dose of soda water than most highballs. Usually for a Buck or Scotch & Soda or something, you want to get the drink to be 2:1, soda to booze, but with this one, I like it closer to a 3:1. It just helps soften some of the clashing bite of the lime. Perhaps the reason the Gin Rickey became a bigger hit was because gin and lime are just natural allies. They don't need any special consideration when it comes to the soda ratio. Whiskey pairs effortlessly with lemon and grapefruit, but lime takes a little extra convincing.
The Whiskey Rickey was originally invented as some sort of conversation starter, a social lubricant and a something to help grease the political wheels. For Bond it was used to drown out the dread of the upcoming unsanctioned night mission. For the rest of us, it's just a bright, refreshing drink that's easy to make and easy to sip. Cheers!
Recipe:
2 oz Whiskey (Rye preferred)
0.75 oz Lime Juice
top Soda Water
Stir whiskey and lime juice in a collins glass with ice. Top with soda water.
Music:
Play It Cool by MusicBox
via JinglePunks
Follow Us!
facebook.com/DistinguishedSpirits
instagram.com/distinguishedspirits
twitter.com/DistinguishedSp
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Featured in This Episode:
Canadian Club Rye
canadianclub.com/us
iSi Soda Siphon
amzn.to/29TG9vV
Studio Neat Clear Ice Kit
amzn.to/1MYeJFw
Bar Tools:
Collins Glass
amzn.to/2aiEAtH
OXO SteeL Double Jigger
amzn.to/1Mlqj8z
Spoon Straw
amzn.to/1pJgEF0
Kikkerland Plaid Paper Straws
amzn.to/29THe6O
Citrus Juicer (Lime)
amzn.to/1YKJ4u1
Cutting Board
amzn.to/1QgQTSW
Small Knife
amzn.to/1KDFQoc
BlenderBottle, 28 oz
amzn.to/1UvgKNy
Learn how to make a Whiskey Rickey worthy of being called a James Bond cocktail using Canadian Club Rye, freshly-squeezed Lime Juice and Soda Water. The series, Cocktails and Pussy Galore, shows you how to drink like 007 using the Ian Fleming books (not the movies) as the source.
The Gin Rickey is, of course, the more famous of the The Rickey’s, and like the Tom Collins (youtu.be/AW3h1J9JTck), it started off as a different drink with a different base-spirit. The drink’s inventor, 19th-Century Washington lobbyist, Joe Rickey, insisted that it be made with whiskey. However, even in his lifetime, he had to fight against the public wanting to change his drink to a gin drink.
Bond would’ve certainly liked the gin version of the drink. He took his Gin & Tonic (youtu.be/4kDoh11QzQU) with an entire lime, which put it in the realm of a Gin Rickey. But he also would’ve appreciated Joe Rickey’s version. Despite the way he was portrayed in the movies, in the books Bond was a big whiskey drinker. He loved Bourbon and Blended Scotch the most, but he also drank Rye, even if it was only on one occasion. In Dr. No, while waiting for his buddy, Quarrel, and for the cover night, Bond sat in his hotel room drinking rye. More specifically, he was drinking a pint of Canadian Club Rye with ice and soda water. So, perhaps it was a Canadian Highball. It was a drink that Bond was enjoying alone, which means it was something he was drinking just because he wanted it. A lot of those occasions, Bond would be drinking something in public while in character or trying to show the room that he was different. It would be something where people would notice the weirdo who stopped the bartender and insisted that his Martinis be made with Vodka and that they be shaken, not stirred. But most of the time, those were made for show, but not this. Rye and soda he was drinking on his own time. If only he had some lime, he would've been able to make a Rickey.
The Rickey was invented in the 1880’s by Joe Rickey. He would instruct bartenders to make them for him and any Congressmen he happened to be entertaining. It was his signature drink and over the years, it started to catch on. However, bartenders and drinkers kept wanting to put gin in his drink. Near the end of his life he conceded that the Rickey could be made with gin or whiskey, but he always insisted that it be made without sugar. The Gin Rickey was the one that endured so well. The Whiskey Rickey, the original Rickey, doesn't get much air-time these days, but the gin cover song gets played.
I've found that the trick to the whiskey version is to give it a bigger dose of soda water than most highballs. Usually for a Buck or Scotch & Soda or something, you want to get the drink to be 2:1, soda to booze, but with this one, I like it closer to a 3:1. It just helps soften some of the clashing bite of the lime. Perhaps the reason the Gin Rickey became a bigger hit was because gin and lime are just natural allies. They don't need any special consideration when it comes to the soda ratio. Whiskey pairs effortlessly with lemon and grapefruit, but lime takes a little extra convincing.
The Whiskey Rickey was originally invented as some sort of conversation starter, a social lubricant and a something to help grease the political wheels. For Bond it was used to drown out the dread of the upcoming unsanctioned night mission. For the rest of us, it's just a bright, refreshing drink that's easy to make and easy to sip. Cheers!
Recipe:
2 oz Whiskey (Rye preferred)
0.75 oz Lime Juice
top Soda Water
Stir whiskey and lime juice in a collins glass with ice. Top with soda water.
Music:
Play It Cool by MusicBox
via JinglePunks
Follow Us!
facebook.com/DistinguishedSpirits
instagram.com/distinguishedspirits
twitter.com/DistinguishedSp
pinterest.com/DistinguishedSp
Featured in This Episode:
Canadian Club Rye
canadianclub.com/us
iSi Soda Siphon
amzn.to/29TG9vV
Studio Neat Clear Ice Kit
amzn.to/1MYeJFw
Bar Tools:
Collins Glass
amzn.to/2aiEAtH
OXO SteeL Double Jigger
amzn.to/1Mlqj8z
Spoon Straw
amzn.to/1pJgEF0
Kikkerland Plaid Paper Straws
amzn.to/29THe6O
Citrus Juicer (Lime)
amzn.to/1YKJ4u1
Cutting Board
amzn.to/1QgQTSW
Small Knife
amzn.to/1KDFQoc
BlenderBottle, 28 oz
amzn.to/1UvgKNy
