A bracing gin sour brightened with fresh mint, the Southside sets London Dry gin against tart lemon and just enough simple syrup to round the edges, with a handful of leaves shaken hard so their oils perfume every sip. Think of a Gin Fizz that skipped the soda and took a turn through the herb garden — served up and ice-cold in a coupe, it drinks crisp, green and clean, and an optional egg white gives it a silky head.
Garnish: Mint Sprig
Shaken · Coupe · Up
add
Add the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, mint leaves, and optional egg white to a shaker.
shake
Shake well with ice (vigorously if egg white is included) to chill and break up the mint.
strain
Double-strain into a chilled coupe to leave the mint and ice behind.
garnish
Garnish with a fresh mint sprig.
No one can say for certain who first mixed the Southside, and its name has gathered several rival explanations. One tale credits Chicago's South Side district, another the Southside Sportsmen's Club on Long Island, while Prohibition lore ties it to Al Capone's gang. Whatever its beginnings, the drink won its reputation at New York's 21 Club, and the IBA now lists it as an official cocktail in a lemon-only form served straight up, distinct from the soda-topped South Side Fizz.