Cherry Lime Gin Rickey

Name: Cherry Lime Gin Rickey (Non-Alcoholic)
Ingredients: 2 ½ oz The Spirit of Gin; 4-5 Fresh Pitted Cherries; Half a lime squeeze; Club Soda; 3 dashes of All The Bitter New Orleans Bitters (optional)

The Cherry Lime Gin Rickey adds ripe cherries to one of the simplest and most refreshing gin cocktails around.

The Spirit of Gin provides the botanical backbone, fresh lime brings the requisite tartness, and muddled cherries add fruit and just enough natural sweetness to soften the edges. Club soda water keeps the drink crisp and dry, while a few dashes of New Orleans Spiced Cherry Bitters add spice and complexity if you want to take it a step further.

It is still very much a Rickey. Bright, fizzy, tart, and refreshingly uncomplicated.

Cherry Lime Gin Rickey (Non-Alcoholic)

The Free Spirits Innovation Lab

Ingredients

2 ½ oz The Spirit of Gin
4-5 Fresh Pitted Cherries
Half a lime squeeze
Club Soda
3 dashes of All The Bitter New Orleans Bitters (optional)

Method

In a tall glass muddle the cherries.
Add the gin, lime juice and bitters then fill with crushed ice.
Top with soda and stir briefly to mix.
Garnish with the spent lime husk.

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Why This Works

A classic Gin Rickey is notably lean. There is no syrup to provide body or sweetness, which means the gin has to remain present alongside tart lime and a generous pour of club soda.

That makes The Spirit of Gin particularly important in this non-alcoholic version. Its botanical character gives the drink a defined center even after dilution, while muddled cherries contribute fruit, texture, and a measured amount of sweetness without turning the Rickey into a fruit soda. Lime keeps the drink taut, and carbonation provides the length and lift that define the style.

The optional New Orleans Spiced Cherry BItters bring anise, spice, and additional botanical complexity, but the drink works perfectly well without them.

About Free Spirits

The Spirit of Gin

The Spirit of Gin is modeled on the softer, earthier profile of Plymouth gin, crafted with real juniper, coriander, and citrus botanicals to deliver balanced juniper, subtle spice, and gentle citrus without turning sharp or medicinal. It has the structure needed for gin cocktails: body to carry tonic and vermouth, smoothness for spirit-forward builds, and brightness to lift citrus in Gimlets and Tom Collins variations.

It holds shape and provides backbone alongside bold ingredients like elderflower, cucumber, or aromatic bitters. Performs reliably in Martinis, Negronis, Gin & Tonics, and any cocktail that expects gin with definition and restraint.

Born in Washington, D.C.

The Rickey was born in Washington, D.C., in the late 19th century and named for lobbyist Joe Rickey, whose preferred combination of whiskey, lime, and soda became known as the Rickey. Gin eventually overtook whiskey as the favored base, and the Gin Rickey became the best-known version of the drink. It remains closely associated with the capital and was named D.C.'s native cocktail in 2011.

Part of the Rickey's staying power is its simplicity. Spirit, fresh lime, and soda leave plenty of room for variation without obscuring the original idea. Here, fresh cherries provide the twist while the essential character of the drink stays intact.

Zero-Proof Cocktail Basics

What is a zero-proof cocktail?

A zero-proof cocktail is a fully built drink that follows the same principles as any classic: acid, sweetness, aromatics, dilution, and a defined base spirit. The difference is the base is non-alcoholic. When that spirit has enough structure and character, like the ones we make, you get a cocktail that drinks like a cocktail, not a compromise.

How do non-alcoholic spirits work in classic cocktail recipes?

Non-alcoholic spirits step into the role of the base spirit. They carry citrus, sugar, bitters, and dilution the same way their alcoholic counterparts do. Some recipes need small ratio adjustments, but the technique stays the same: build the drink, balance the elements, and let the base spirit define the profile.

Do zero-proof cocktails taste like the originals?

They taste like cocktails: recognizable, structured, and intentional. The goal isn't imitation; it's integrity. When the build is balanced and the spirit has presence, you get the character of the drink without relying on alcohol to do the work.

Can zero-proof cocktails have real complexity?

Yes. Complexity comes from design, not ethanol. A well-built zero-proof cocktail shows layers: aromatics, texture, finish. The craft sits in the composition, not the ABV. The right non-alcoholic spirit brings the structure; the ingredients do the rest.

What is the difference between zero-proof and low-proof cocktails?

Zero-proof cocktails contain no alcohol. Low-proof cocktails blend traditional spirits with non-alcoholic spirits to dial down the ABV while keeping the drink's identity intact. It's the easiest way to keep the ritual, cut the intensity, and stay in full control of the experience.

Why does Free Spirits work so well in both zero-proof and low-proof cocktails?

The Spirit of Gin is built with botanical complexity and enough body to hold vermouth and citrus in balance. Whether you use it as the sole base or split it with traditional gin, it behaves like a true cocktail foundation, keeping the drink crisp, layered, and recognizable.

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