This Raspberry Lime Rickey Cocktail is both fruity and fresh. Full of effervescence, it's a light vodka cocktail with the sweet taste of raspberries, a hint of lime, and a little bubbly. It's the perfect refreshing drink for summer time while it's red color lends itself to Valentine's Day and Christmas.
Raspberry Vodka Drink
It's 5 o'clock somewhere and that calls for a cocktail! Of course, when it's beautiful outside, like it is today, sitting out by the water and sipping on this Raspberry Lime Rickey cocktail sounds like just the thing to do. Living in Florida does have its advantages!
This raspberry vodka drink actually came about because raspberries were on sale yesterday. And I absolutely adore raspberries! Whether it's by the handful, in Raspberry Mint Iced Tea or in desserts like my Raspberry Sushi Roll, they're always delicious. And since they're red, and it's almost Valentine's Day, I thought a cocktail recipe would be perfect!
With the help of a menu from the Alley Cat Lounge in Savannah, the idea for this raspberry lime rickey was born. No ingredients were listed but with a little trial and error I hit on the perfect combo of sweet, tart and sparkling.
What is a raspberry lime rickey?
This cocktail originated after the Civil War. Joseph Rickey, a democratic lobbyist, ordered this particular drink at Shoomaker's Bar in Washington D.C quite often. It consisted of bourbon or whiskey, lemon and seltzer water and became known as the "Joe Rickey".
When prohibition hit, lime replaced lemon, the alcohol was dropped and, since it tasted similar to the cocktail, it became a popular national mocktail. It was sold in soda shops and ice cream parlors across the country with the New Yorkers making it their own by adding cherry juice, while the New Englanders added raspberry juice. Hence the Raspberry Lime Rickey was born.
This sweet and tangy drink finally came back into its own a decade later with gin being the primary alcohol. Wiki describes it as a highball drink made with gin or bourbon, lime and carbonated water.
Variations
- Change up the sparkling water and create the bubbly with club soda, champagne or prosecco.
- Prefer gin over vodka, bring on the gin rickey!
- Make the raspberry flavor deeper by using raspberry vodka instead of regular vodka.
- And yes, this can be made just as deliciously with frozen raspberries as with fresh.
How to Make A Raspberry Lime Rickey
- Place fresh raspberries, or thawed frozen berries, in a bowl and sprinkle with sugar and lime juice. Let sit while the sugar releases the juices.
- Push raspberries through a sieve or puree in a blender then strain out the seeds.
- Place ice in 2 glasses and add slices of limes and a few raspberries.
- Divide the puree between glasses, add vodka and fill the rest of the way with sparkling water or your choice of bubbly. I like to use La Croix lime sparkling water.
- Garnish with lime wedge and a raspberry.
Isn't that color just spectacular! If you want to surprise your special someone on Valentine's Day, this Raspberry Lime Rickey cocktail would be deliciously perfect. Of course, the red would work well for Halloween too or just wait until summer and sip it poolside. Really, any occasion is a good one for raspberry vodka drinks!
More Sparkling Cocktails
Mango Mojito takes a classic cocktail to a whole new tropical level!
Sparkling Margarita with orange and a hint of jalapeno.
Gin and Blood Orange Mimosas from The Flavor Bender
Sparkling Tequila Cocktail with grapefruit juice and lemon-lime soda.
Valentine Wine Spritzer a light and refreshing cocktail.
Find lots more holiday cocktail recipes here on 2CM!
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Raspberry Lime Rickey Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 pint raspberries + some for adding to glass & for garnish
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 2 oz lime juice
- 4 oz vodka
- Sparkling Water Club Soda, Champagne or Prosecco
- Garnishes: lime slices, fresh raspberries
Instructions
- Place pint of raspberries in a bowl. Sprinkle with sugar and add lime juice.
- Let sit for at least 10 minutes then push through a sieve or fine mesh strainer.
- Discard seeds.
- Fill 2 tall glasses with ice.
- Place several slices of lime and 3 raspberries in each glass.
- Divide raspberry puree between glasses.
- Add 2-oz of vodka to each glass.
- Top with sparkling soda, club soda, champagne or Prosecco.
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