A frothy, smooth and refreshingly fizzy cocktail, perfect for summertime or anytime.
Gin is most definitely my favorite spirit. I love it in Martinis, Negronis and over ice with tonic, of course. And there’s all kinds of gins to try and discover; some are infused with refreshing cucumber, while others get very creative and use ingredients like sea kelp, as some California distillers do. Whenever I have a tough time deciding which gin to go with, I always reach for a classic London Dry.
As much as I love my gin, I had never had a Fizz before. Naturally, I decided to test drive a few. You know, for research. I poured the ingredients into my shaker and gave it a good rumble, marveling at the froth the egg white gave the drink. Once it was topped off with club soda, I took my first sip. And that first sip soon became a… let’s just call it a “refined guzzle”. I immediately fell in love with the Gin Fizz. The flavors of the gin’s botanicals, the lemon and sugar all came together with the bubbles of the club soda for a perfectly light and refreshing taste. The egg white froth on top added that extra literal layer of smoothness.
If you’ve never tried or even considered the Gin Fizz, you’re missing out. With more than 150 years of history behind it, this cocktail has stood the test of time, and for good reason. In 1870s Great Britain, it was first served as a popular “gin punch”, and by the 1880s it made the jump across the pond to America, where the bartenders began to shake the ingredients and eventually added egg white to the recipe.
That version of the drink became to be known as the Gin Fizz, and it proved so popular that bartender Henry C. Ramos of New Orleans was heard to have employed 20 bartenders solely for the purpose of shaking and serving the cocktail. During Mardi Gras in 1915, Ramos had to hire 35 bartenders and, according to Stanley Arthur’s book New Orleans Drinks & How to Mix ‘Em, the bar staff “nearly shook their arms off, and were still unable to keep up with demand”.
You won’t need to shake your arms off to make yourself a few of these at home, so don’t worry. A Gin Fizz is fun to make and to drink, you’ll love it!
Is a Gin Fizz the same as a Gin Rickey?
They’re close, but not the same. Where the Fizz has egg white and sugar, or simple syrup, and is served “up”, the Gin Rickey has only three ingredients, replaces the lemon juice with lime and cuts out the sugar. It’s also served on the rocks. With just lime, gin and club soda, the Rickey is definitely more of a tart-tasting cocktail. It turns out confusing these cocktails is pretty common. But once you have either one, it won’t happen again.
What is the best gin to use in a Gin Fizz?
I mentioned earlier that there are different types of gins out there, and the type that’s best for this cocktail is really a matter of personal taste. I’ve talked about how if I’m indecisive about which gin to choose, I’ll always go with a nice mid-to-top shelf London Dry; those are usually juniper forward and mix well in just about everything that calls for the spirit. Some distillers will infuse their gins with rose petals, cucumbers and a range of other fresh and aromatic botanicals. There are so many choices, that part of the joy of making gin-based cocktails, like the Gin Fizz, is that you can play around with the different flavors that are offered. See what you like best, find your own flavor as I always say.
Ingredients
- 2 oz of gin
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3/4 oz simple syrup
- 1 egg white about 1/2 oz
- Club soda to top off (around 1 oz)
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 oz gin, 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 3/4 oz simple syrup. Crack in the egg white.
- Seal your shaker tightly and shake vigorously without ice for about 15 seconds.
- Add 3 or 4 ice cubes to the shaker. Seal it back up and shake again vigorously until the shaker feels ice-cold.
- Double-strain into a chilled Collins glass. You want to catch any ice shards or bits of egg white.
- Gently pour club soda to top off the cocktail, creating a light fizz that gives the drink its name. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Nutrition
FAQs & Tips
As the Gin Fizz is a close cousin to the Tom Collins, a Collins-style glass is the perfect way to enjoy your drink. You’ll want a tall glass, especially when you pour in the club soda… the egg white gets a little frothier, you don’t want any to spill. For garnish, a twist of lemon adds just the right extra amount of citrusy zest.
Based on my own experience, a traditional Gin Fizz doesn’t store well. If you whip one up and then stick it in the fridge for later, your egg white will thin out, losing the froth and the club soda will lose its fizz. Two of the best parts of this cocktail are the foam of the egg white and the sparkle of the soda, you don’t want to lose those. Definitely drink up once you make yourself one of these great drinks.
A glass of Gin Fizz will be around 210 calories. Those numbers can add up quickly with this drink; it tastes very light and you’ll want more than a few.
The amount of alcohol that’s mixed into a Fizz is about the same that most cocktails use, so it isn’t any less boozy than most drinks. Because gin blends so well with the other ingredients, it can have a more effervescent and brighter taste. For people who don’t like the taste of most alcohols, the Gin Fizz is a great option.
Always use pasteurized eggs, or you can buy egg whites that are prepackaged, refrigerated and ready to serve in cartons. Never eat or drink raw, non-pasteurized eggs as they can carry salmonella and make you sick.
Gin Fizz Variations
The Gin Fizz has many tasty variations, as well as similar cocktails that you might be interested in now that you’ve tasted and loved the classic Fizz.
- I mentioned earlier that Tom Collins is a close cousin to the Gin Fizz, served on the rocks but without an egg white foam top.
- Earlier I wrote about Henry Ramos of New Orleans, who made his own version, the Ramos Gin Fizz, which adds lime, milk and orange flower water for a creamy, milkshake-like cocktail.
- A Sloe Gin Fizz uses a British-style sloe gin, a less boozy type of spirit that’s made from sloe berries, has a red color and is closer to a liqueur than actual gin.
- Of course, you can make simple variations of your Gin Fizz by swapping out the simple syrup for flavor infused ones, like lavender for example. You can use cranberry-flavored sparkling water, or even make what is called a “Diamond Fizz”, by substituting the club soda with your favorite prosecco or champagne.
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