Fitzmaurice bartends at the 1331 Lounge in the JW Marriott, the home of the city’s official drink. The Rickey originated in 1883 at a Washington saloon called Shoomaker’s where the JW Marriot now stands. This month, D.C. Councilman Jack Evans named the lime juice concoction the District’s native cocktail. What is the origin of the Rickey?
It was invented at Shoomaker’s, partially by mistake. One of the bartenders dropped a lime in Col. Jim Rickey’s drink. One thing led to another and that’s when the Rickey was pretty formed. As they would say back them, it was air conditioning in a glass. There was no sugar. You had a nice clean refreshing drink there.
So how do you make a Rickey?
Half a lime, squeeze it and drop it in into a tall highball glass. Once you do that, you add ice and have a choice of gin or bourbon, a two-ounce pour. You top it off with mineral water. As you do that, swirl it around so the lime can interact with the alcohol. Add a straw and you’re good to go.
What is the importance of having a city cocktail?
It enhances the mystique of Washington and it’s another talking point for the tourists in the city. If you go to New York, they have their signature drinks and now we do, too. It’s like the Kentucky Derby and the mint julep; I like to think it’s the same relationship.
Have patrons accepted the drink?
The reaction has been fantastic. It’s fun to make the drink and know that you’re making the drink for the bar and the customer, but also as a part of the D.C. The reaction I’ve received is that it’s really refreshing, and that’s what I wanted to hear, especially with the heat right now. It’s definitely more popular because of the heat.
Amy Myers
