Gin Fizz
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 9.6% ABV ∙
The Gin Fizz is a shaken highball of gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup topped with soda water, served without ice.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake with ice: London dry gin 45 mlLemon juice 30 mlSugar syrup 10 ml
- Strain into the chilled highball glass without ice
- Top with a splash of Soda water
- Garnish with a lemon slice or a lemon twist (opt.)
Tips
- The drink is served without ice, so chill the glass well and keep the soda water cold.
- After straining in the shaken mix, top with soda water. The IBA spec calls for just a splash, so stay at 60 ml or under; more soda makes the drink longer and weaker.
History
The Gin Fizz is on the International Bartenders Association's official list of cocktails, in the "Unforgettables" category.
The Gin Fizz traces to the American fizz family of gin, citrus, sugar, and soda water drinks, an offshoot of the older sours category. Its first known published recipe appeared in Jerry Thomas's The Bar-Tender's Guide in 1876.
Fizzes went on to become a genuine sensation across the United States into the early 20th century, with New Orleans claiming the drink as something of a hometown specialty. Bars there were known to employ whole teams of bartenders shaking in rotation to keep up with demand. The drink remained popular through Prohibition-era speakeasies.
FAQ
What is in a Gin Fizz cocktail?
London dry gin (45 ml), fresh lemon juice (30 ml) and sugar syrup (10 ml), shaken with ice and topped with soda water.
Is a Gin Fizz the same as a Tom Collins?
No. They are close relatives, but a Gin Fizz is shaken, served without ice and topped with only a splash of soda. A Tom Collins is served over ice in a taller glass with more soda, so it drinks longer and more diluted.
What gin is best for a Gin Fizz?
A London dry gin, the standard choice. Its dry, juniper-led flavor stands up to the lemon and soda.
