It’s summer in the city and, in DC, the Rickey reigns supreme from Memorial Day to Labor Day. But while the Gin Rickey (or the Whiskey Rickey, which is totally cool too) is refreshment distilled into a single perfect glass, it doesn’t have to be the beginning and end of the Rickey. We decided to play around a little bit with the basic formula and came up with something we think you’ll enjoy. Something just as cooling and refreshing as the original, with a bit more complexity to it: The French Rickey. â€“ Andrew

The French Rickey

2 oz Gin*
1 oz St-Germain
1/2 Lime
1 Strawberry, Hulled & Quartered
Tonic Water

Add the gin and St-Germain to a cocktail glass. Add half a lime and muddle well. Squeeze the strawberry gently – don’t muddle – to release some juice and add to the glass. Fill with ice and top with tonic water. Enjoy!

*Gin works fabulously here, as does whiskey. If you really want this to be a French French Rickey, I bet you could even get away with Cognac. In this case, we used Rhubarb â€“ a concoction of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction – which works surprisingly well here, with a vegetal complexity that matches the St-Germain nicely.

Just like its inspiration, the French Rickey is bracingly fresh and refreshing, with lots of crisp citrus and bitter tonic. But it’s also a bit sweet, floral, and fruity from the St-Germain and strawberry. So mix up your basic Rickeys and give the French Rickey a try this summer.

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

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