This month’s Mixology Monday came pretty quick due to the week of extra time Paul graciously gave everyone for last month. This Mixology Monday is hosted by Kevin over at Save the Drinkers. Thanks Kevin!!!

Even though we had a short time to come up with our entry this month, it really couldn’t have come at a better time. The Scofflaw’s Den, and your hosts SeanMike and myself, live and work in the Northern Virginia/Washington, DC area. DC (and the surrounding ‘Burbs) are mostly made up of folks who have ended up here for one reason or another, so it was hard for me to think of something truly “local.” Now I could have asked some friends of mine who did in fact grow up and stay in the area, but that would have taken effort. Effort was something I was severely lacking for the last three days because it was my birthday weekend. I really just wanted to enjoy myself, make some cocktails, celebrate with friends and enjoy a three day weekend. (How’s that for a self-gratifying plug! And I’m still accepting gifts if anyone is inclined . . . )

Anyway, the fortuitous timing of this MxMo is based on the DC Craft Bartenders Guild newly designated “Rickey Month” in DC for July. Much like New Orleans has the Sazerac and San Francisco has the Pisco Punch, DC can claim the creation of the Rickey.

The cockail is named after “Colonel Joe” Rickey who was a lobbyist in the late 19th century. He regularly drank with members of Congress; trying to sway their votes, curry favor and loosening their tongues at Shoomaker’s that used to be located on E St. right off Pennsylvania Ave. It is said that Colonel Joe originally ordered his Rickey with whiskey, yet I would wager that most folks generally recognize the gin version of the drink.

A rickey is a pretty standard affair. Here is a basic recipe:

1.5 oz Gin (or Whiskey)
0.5 oz lime juice
Seltzer/Club Soda
-Pour the spirit and lime juice over ice in a highball glass. Top with fizzy water. You can sweeten to taste if you prefer, or not.

As you can see, a pretty basic recipe. At the Rickey Competition that was held a few weeks ago the contestants really used the basic recipe as a starting point and created their own twists on this classic. From this, I took my cue for this month’s Local Flavor Mixology Monday. I created a twist on the Rickey that fits the Scofflaw’s Den, Washington, DC and, I think, honors DC’s contribution to the cocktail world that continues to this day.

But first I needed a twist. For a long time, I had been meaning to make up a shrub. Arlington has a great many farmer’s markets with great produce from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Including tons of fresh fruit. Perfect to use some berries and create a shrub. So that was what I started with.

Mixed Berry Shrub
1 pint raspberrys
1 pint blackberrys
1 cup sugar
1 cup white vinegar
-Bring everything to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool and bottle. (In full disclosure, after I let the shrub cool, I added about 2 teaspoons of balsamic reduction to increase the tartness a bit. Wow!!!)

Berry Shrub Cooking

After I got it in a bottle, this is what I had.

After getting the shrub finished, it was only matter of figuring out correct proportions. After a little trial and error, I give you:

The K Street Rickey
2.00 oz gin
1.50 oz Berry Shrub
0.75 oz lime juice
0.50 oz simple syrup
Seltzer Water

-Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into an ice filled collins glass. Top with Seltzer and stir lightly. Garnish with some mint, mixed seasonal berries or cocktail skewers with hundred dollar bills attached.

K Street is known as the hub of lobbyists and lawyers in Washington DC. Definitely the location where one would find a modern day “Colonel Joe.” The K Street Rickey is light and refreshing, a drink that can be sipped seemingly forever, yet behind the lightness hides the punch of the gin. It comes to you sweet and full of berries, but once it hits your lips, hiding just behind the sweetness is the unmistakable sourness and twang of the vinegar. You can make your own cocktail/lobbyist analogy here . . .

There you have it. A recipe for a classic Rickey and my version this this venerable DC cocktail.

Thanks again to Kevin for hosting this month!

Cheers!