Blood Orange Gin Lime Rickey Recipe | We are not Martha (2024)

Searching for a delicious co*cktail that's sure to brighten up your winter? I took a classic lime rickey drink and added fresh blood orange juice and gin for these blood orange gin co*cktails!

(This recipe for Blood Orange Gin Lime Rickeys was originally published in February 2012, but was updated with new photos in 2020).

It's co*cktail Friday! And I'm writing this from the airport about to depart to Richmond, VA, to visit Chris's family. Sitting in the new Jet Blue terminal at Logan Airport makes me feel like I need a co*cktail. Big time.

But unfortunately, there's only a prepared sandwich kiosk. And I'm fairly certain they don't sell co*cktails. Or blood oranges. Or even a nice cup of Starbucks coffee... Why did I get here three hours early??

Anyway, it's likely that you need a co*cktail, too, right? We can get through this together (except you're probably sitting on your couch after a long week, relaxing). If you are, get up right now and make this Blood Orange Lime Rickey. And have one for me. Thank you.

WHAT'S A LIME RICKEY?

I grew up obsessed with raspberry lime rickeys and would always order them from our local ice cream place, Brighams. But what the heck is a lime rickey? While they're currently best known in New England, they actually originated in Washington D.C., in the 1800s thanks to Colonial Joesph Rickey.

He and his friends ordered his signature drink so much that bartenders started referring to drinks consisting of ice, bourbon or whiskey, seltzer water, and lemon as "Joe Rickeys." During prohibition, people started realizing that you could omit the alcohol and use lime juice instead of lemon for a drink that still tasted like a co*cktail (source).

So, they started selling them in soda shops, often adding flavored syrup (cherry in NYC and raspberry in New England). Clearly, the drink went through quite a transformation since it first originated, but it ended up in a pretty delicious place.

The bottom line is that lime juice and club soda make for a super refreshing beverage, especially with a splash of juice or syrup mixed in. And since prohibition is long over, it's perfectly acceptable to add some alcohol back in, too... hence this blood orange gin co*cktail!

HOW TO MAKE BLOOD ORANGE GIN LIME RICKEYS

There is nothing complicated about these blood orange gin lime rickeys. The most difficult thing is juicing all those blood oranges and attempting not to make a big mess (or eat all of them).

Pour the blood orange juice into a medium pitcher, along with lime juice and gin. Of course, you can adjust the amount of ingredients to taste. Some like it ginny-er. Some like it less so. Who are you? And can I have your gin? 😉

Then divide the drink between four ice-filled glasses and top off with club soda and some pretty citrus garnishes.

I absolutely LOVE the color of this drink. Seriously, there may be nothing better than a beautiful blood orange. And they always make the most perfect co*cktails. The blood orange gin co*cktail combination is my new favorite (though they also go perfectly with vodka!).

Whenever I see blood oranges at my grocery store, I HAVE to buy them. And while I love cooking and baking with them, making co*cktails with them seems to be the most obvious choice for me.

I like that this blood orange lime rickey is a little bit sweet, a little bit tart, and full of fizziness. It's beautifully refreshing, but still a lovely winter drink.

If you enjoy a good gin and tonic, but want something a bit more exciting, this is a great drink for you. You can certainly replace the club soda with tonic, but I like the lightness of the soda.

I hope all your co*cktail wishes come true this weekend. I'm excited to spend some time in Richmond and am hoping for maybe a co*cktail or two! Perhaps a blood orange gin co*cktail?

Did this week/day/hour make you feel like you need a co*cktail? Why?

If you're looking for another delicious blood orange co*cktail, check out my Blood Orange Habanero co*cktail (made with vodka!). If you're not into co*cktails, but love blood oranges, you might like this Sunshine Citrus Salad. And I love this gorgeous Blood Orange Chia Pudding recipe from The Good Eats Co.

📖 Recipe