The Gin Fizz is not only an immensely popular bubbly drink but also the perfect summer drink. It’s refreshing, boozy and just crowd-pleasing. Think of lemonade but better because there’s gin in it!
The fizzy drink might be trendy right now, but it goes back over one hundred years to the origins of cocktails — the golden era of mixed beverages. It’s amazing how such an ancient recipe feels so fresh and up-to-date. Well, here’s all about the Gin fizz, including a tried and tested recipe for gin fizz that will surely make you look good.
History of the Gin Fizz Cocktail
English chemist Joseph Priestley invented sparkling water by accident in 1767, but it wasn’t until the late 19th-century that the fizzy drink became a commercial success — it soon found its way into bars worldwide, and the fizz cocktails were born.
The world-famous bartender Jerry Thomas talked about Fizz drinks in his Bartender’s Guide, 1887. The bubbly drinks became popular in New Orleans, where the cocktail mixing scene was incredibly sophisticated for the era. The most popular of fizzy drinks was the gin fizz, and it topped the popularity charts well into the 1950s. It’s still widely appreciated today.
Ingredient Rundown
A gin fizz is based on gin, a clear spirit aromatized with everything from roots, herbs and spices to seeds and flowers. Of course, its most crucial aromatic is juniper berries.
Then you have lemon juice, which adds acidity and freshness to the drink, and simple syrup — these ingredients are often found together in the world of mixed drinks because they balance each other.
Finally, there’s the sparkling water, which adds the fizz to the gin fizz. Soda, club soda, or carbonated water, it’s all basically the same thing.
The most controversial ingredient in the drink is the white egg, which some people avoid, and it’s okay. The egg adds a frothy cap to the drink, and although immensely satisfying, it raises concerns amongst some people. If you’re not fond of consuming raw eggs, skip it.
Variations and Substitutions
The first considerable variation for the gin fizz is leaving out the egg white. In this case, you don’t have to dry shake (sans-ice) the cocktail beforehand; just shake the ingredients with ice. Oh, and don’t shake soda! Add it later.
Reserved for the brave, the Golden Gin Fizz includes the egg yolk as well, so the drink gets a lovely golden hue. It’s creamier and richer too.
The Royal Gin Fizz calls for Champagne instead of club soda just in case you want to splurge a little. You can use any sparkling wine, though — the drink is equally delicious.
Gin Fizz Recipe
Equipment:
- Cocktail shaker
- Strainer
- Highball glass
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed.
- 3/4-ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Club soda to top
- Ice
- 1 lemon wheel for garnish
Directions:
- Add to the shaker (without ice) the gin, lemon juice, egg white and simple syrup. Shake (dry shake) vigorously until foam forms. About 10-15 seconds.
- Add 4-5 large ice cubes to the shaker and shake again to chill the drink for about 10 more seconds.
- Fill the highball glass with fresh ice and pour the gin fizz through the strainer.
- Top with soda, stir gently and garnish with a lemon wheel.
