Anisette Ricky is exactly what a Ricky is meant to be: refreshing and crisp, even as it flips the style’s own founding idea. Legend traces the Ricky itself to 1880s Washington, D.C., where a lobbyist named Colonel Joe Rickey asked for something cool and unsweetened on a hot day; this version leans right into sweetness instead, starting from France’s anisette liqueur.
Licorice-scented sweetness meets lime’s bright acidity, and soda’s fine bubbles lighten it into something close to a grown-up lemon squash.
Pour one tonight, a gentle reset for a hot afternoon.
Recipe and Method
Ingredients
Recipe no.061
- Anisette — 1 + 1/2 oz (45ml)
- Soda water — Fill
- Lime wedge
- Muddler
- Fill = pour until the glass is about 80-90% full.
Method
Squeeze a lime wedge lightly into the glass and drop it in, then add ice and anisette.
Fill gently with soda water to avoid killing the fizz, then stir lightly. One or two slow rotations, lifting the ice slightly, is enough to combine everything.
Slide in a muddler at the end, and it’s ready to serve.
Point — Muddle the lime lightly to adjust the tartness to your own taste.
- Technique ｜ Stir
- Glass ｜ Collins glass / Tumbler
- ABV ｜ Around 5-6%
- Best Enjoyed ｜ Daytime / Before a meal
- Style ｜ Ricky
Anisette Ricky ｜ The Details
Character and Flavor
Anisette Ricky is a simple cocktail built by topping France’s sweet anisette liqueur with refreshing soda water. It’s a staple of the Ricky style, known for striking a perfect balance between sweetness and crisp refreshment.
Anisette is made from anise seed, giving it a distinctive sweet aroma reminiscent of licorice along with a spiced edge — the flavor spreads gently across the palate, almost like an herbal candy. Lime’s bright acidity then cuts through that richness, adding depth and keeping things from tipping too sweet. Soda’s fine bubbles add lightness on top, landing on something close to a grown-up lemon squash.
The clear liquid in the glass, punctuated by lime’s vivid green, makes for a visually cooling drink as well. If you’re drawn to sweet, herbal flavors, this one is genuinely worth trying — it’s an ideal choice for a hot afternoon or any time you want a light change of pace.
Points, Twists, and Food Pairings
- Food pairings — Mint or basil salads, herbed cheese, and lemon-marinated dishes all work well. Herbal snacks that echo anise’s aroma bring out the best in this drink.
- Method tip — Pour the soda gently to keep the fizz intact. One or two slow stirs, lifting the ice slightly, is all it takes to combine everything.
- A note on drinking it — Anisette is quite sweet, so drinking too much can leave your palate a little fatigued. A little extra lime juice helps refresh things between sips.
- Best for — An ideal daytime relaxer or aperitif. With a relatively low ABV, it’s also a gentle, approachable option for anyone still easing into cocktails.
