Gin Fizz
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 12.2% ABV ∙
The Gin Fizz is a shaken highball of gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup topped with soda water, served without ice. Vigorous shaking builds a frothy head that meets a crisp, effervescent lift, tart citrus and clean spirit balancing into a light, bone-dry finish.
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
- Pour into thin tall tumbler glass
- Top with a splash of Soda water
- Garnish with a lemon slice or a lemon twist (opt.)
- Note: Serve without ice
Tips
- Pre-chill the glass so the drink stays cold even though it's served without ice.
- Add the soda water as a top-up splash right before serving, so the fizz doesn't flatten before it reaches the glass.
History
The Gin Fizz – IBA denotes the International Bartenders Association's official specification of the Gin Fizz, one of the recipes the IBA maintains on its list of world-recognized cocktails under the "Unforgettables" category. The listing standardizes proportions and method for consistency among bartenders worldwide, codifying the classic build rather than introducing any twist of its own.
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, with as many as 32 staff working the shakers at once during Carnival season in 1915. The drink remained popular through Prohibition-era speakeasies, when it was often prized as a hangover remedy as much as a party drink.
FAQ
What is in a Gin Fizz cocktail?
A Gin Fizz is gin, fresh lemon juice, and sugar syrup shaken with ice, then topped with a splash of soda water and served in a highball glass without ice.
Is a Gin Fizz the same as a Tom Collins?
No, they are close relatives but not the same drink. A Gin Fizz is shaken, poured without ice, and topped with just a splash of soda water, while a Tom Collins is built over ice in a taller glass with a longer soda top-up, giving it a lighter, more diluted drink.
What gin is best for a Gin Fizz?
A London dry gin is the standard choice, since its citrus-forward, juniper-led profile holds up well against the lemon and soda. This build uses London dry gin as its base spirit.
