Root Beer Rickey

Recipe from Jim Meehan

Adapted by Ali Slagle

Root Beer Rickey
Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Rating
4(202)
Notes
Read community notes

Spicy, spritzy and refreshing, this cocktail is essentially grown-up root beer. A classic rickey is just liquor, lime juice and carbonated water, but reach for rye whiskey and trade the soda water for root beer, and you get the root beer rickey, a drink bartender Jim Meehan created for Cicoria, a pizzeria in Portland, Ore. Root beer and rye are natural partners, as each is woodsy, minty and caramelly; the soda also lends sweetness without having to add sugar. At Cicoria, the drink is served up in a short glass and garnished with a pineapple wedge, but this easygoing rendition opts for ice in a tall glass with more root beer. Add a lime wedge, if you like. —Ali Slagle

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Ingredients

Yield:1 drink
  • Ice
  • 2ounces rye whiskey
  • 1ounce fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)
  • 4ounces root beer (see Tip)
  • Lime wedge, for serving (optional)
Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Into an ice-filled Collins glass, pour the whiskey and lime juice. Top with root beer, then give a quick stir with a bar spoon, fork handle or chopstick. Top with the lime wedge, if using.

Tip
  • The flavor of the drink is largely dependent on the quality of the root beer, so it’s worth seeking out a root beer sweetened with honey, molasses or cane sugar as opposed to high-fructose corn syrup. Virgil’s and Jones Soda are great choices; Cicoria uses root beer from Crater Lake Soda.

Ratings

4 out of 5
202 user ratings
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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

tom C

Can you substitute Jamison Irish whiskey for the Rye?

lcminer

The lime gives it a weird sour note.

Stewart

The late lamented Hungry Mother in Cambridge's Kendall Square did basically this with Dr Pepper, and it was delightful in my drinking days.

MysteryDancer

Skip the lime. Rye and root beer don't want it to intrude on their delicious dance.

A bit too tart

There’s a bit too much lime- adding a few dashes of bitters helps too

Gail

We tried it with no lime and then added .5 ounces of lime. We liked both but I think 1 ounce of lime would be too much.

Johanna

Agree this was way too much lime. Next time, we'll just do the rye and root beer and garnish with a lime wedge

Wrenn

I'm sure this is personal preference, but I just didn't think the line juice was that great with the root beer. Root beer and either the rye or bourbon is always great, though!

Gail

We tried it with no lime and then added .5 ounces of lime. We liked both but I think 1 ounce of lime would be too much.

Jenn

This is the worst drink I have ever consumed. It is sour and sickly sweet all at once.

A bit too tart

There’s a bit too much lime- adding a few dashes of bitters helps too

MysteryDancer

Skip the lime. Rye and root beer don't want it to intrude on their delicious dance.

MP

After halving the lime twice, I realized I'm a big fan of root beer and rye.

Stewart

The late lamented Hungry Mother in Cambridge's Kendall Square did basically this with Dr Pepper, and it was delightful in my drinking days.

Tom F

Not terrible, not great. Think I’ll stick with Manhattans and Sazeracs.

tom C

Can you substitute Jamison Irish whiskey for the Rye?

lcminer

The lime gives it a weird sour note.

Tom F

Agree. Not really pleasant.

Chris G

It's lime... That's the point

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Credits

Adapted by Ali Slagle

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