How to make Southside cocktail 3 Ways | Recipe | History
How to make a Southside cocktail. This vintage cocktail has an interesting history behind it, is perfect for a summer day and comes with 2 variations on the classic recipe making for a perfect Southside, perfect for any cocktail preferences.
A Southside has long been a favourite of mine. I love making these on summer days or out on camping trips. They fit perfectly given there easy and accessibility. It’s a must try for all gin lovers out there.
Throughout this article on the humble Southside cocktail we will cover the basic southside cocktail recipe as well as two of my favorite Southside cocktail recipe variations and that ever so interesting Southside cocktail history.
Southside cocktail video recipe
Candied mint leaves garnish
The standard and easiest way to garnish your southside is with a sprig of mint. Giving the mint a light slap prior to garnishing will help release the oils and aroma in the mint leaves.
However, for a fun twist on the garnish, you can try candied mint leaves. These are mint leaves soaked in sugar syrup and hardened to create crunchy sweet mint leaves.
To check out how to make the candied mint leaves check out this post here
Want to brush up on your gin knowledge? CLICK HERE for my ultimate guide on gin.
Candied mint photo.
History of the Southside cocktail
The Southside cocktail, like many other cocktails, has a history shrouded in mystery. When it comes to these vintage, pre prohibition cocktails, pinpointing an exact origin can be difficult.
For the most part, cocktails evolve, names change and ingredients differ. So origins can be cloudy. Do you give credit to the people who first named a cocktail even if the ingredients change? Or do you give credit to the drink with the most similar ingredients, even if the name is different? It’s tricky.
When it comes to The Southside, all the origins seem to point at The Southside Fizz being the first of its kind. There are three main stories that lay claim to the origins of this classic gin cocktail. They are as follows;
The South side Sportsmen's Club
The South side sportsmen's club was a recreational club that catered to the wealthy businessmen of Long Island from the 1870s through the 1960s. Known for it’s elite and famous members.
During the 1890’s, Fizz cocktails were at the height of their popularity. As the story goes, a cocktail of gin, mint, sugar and soda known as the Southside fizz was a popular tipple over at The Sportsmen’s Club.
Manhattan’s 21 Club
A second theory of the South Side cocktail origins can be traced to Manhattan’s 21 Club. Established January 1, 1930 by Jack Kreindler and Charlie Berns, the 21 Club was one of New York’s great speakeasy’s during the american prohibition era.
The bar was designed in a way where all its alcohol could be hidden.
“Prohibition forced Jack and Charlie to hide their liquor. They employed Frank Buchanan to design a system of camouflaged doors, invisible chutes, revolving bars and a secret wine cellar.
The cellar was actually part of No. 19 next door, so staff could honestly say there was no alcohol on the premises. It housed 2,000 cases of wine, including the private collections of Presidents Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren and Aristotle Onassis.” 21 Club history
Al Capone and Chicago gangsters
The third theory associates the Southsides origins with Chicago and it’s gangsters, such as Al Capone. The theory comes from a cocktail that was drunk during the 1920’s on Chicago’s south side, hence the name.
As the story goes, North side gangsters had access to superior spirits and drank gin mixed with ginger ale. A cocktail known as the Gin Buck. South side bootleggers such as Al Capone had inferior gin, and so they mixed it with mint, lime and sugar to mask the harsh taste of the illegal bootlegged gin.
Southside Cocktail Recipe
Southside Cocktail
Ingredients
Instructions
- Shake all ingredients with ice.
- Fine strain into a chilled coupe.
- Garnish with a mint sprig or candied mint leaves (see above)
Notes
For variations and tips, keep scrolling.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
118.85Fat
1.94 gSat. Fat
0.65 gCarbs
12.86 gFiber
0.17 gNet carbs
12.69 gSugar
10.86 gProtein
13.26 gSodium
45.3 mgCholesterol
34.59 mgThe nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
Southside Cocktail Variations
Southside recipe cocktail photo
The Southside Fizz Cocktail recipe | The Gin Mojito
In theory, a Southside cocktail is basically a Gin Mojito. A classic twist on the Southside to make it even closer to a gin mojito is to serve the cocktail in a long glass with ice and add a dash of soda water. It will transform the drink to a longer, refreshing cocktail. Perfect for summer days.
Ingredients
50ml London Dry Gin
25ml Fresh Lime Juice
15ml Sugar Syrup
7/10 Fresh Mint Leaves
Top with a dash of soda water
Method
Shake all ingredients apart from the soda water with ice.
Fine strain into a tall glass filled with cubed ice.
Top with the soda water
Garnish with a mint sprig or candied mint leaves (see below)
The Southside Royale Recipe
The Southside Royale as you can imagine, is much like the above recipe. However, instead of topping up your Southside with soda water, You’ll top it up with Prosecco or Champagne. To give your southside a celebrational feel if you will.
Ingredients
50ml London Dry Gin
25ml Fresh Lime Juice
15ml Sugar Syrup
7/10 Fresh Mint Leaves
Top with Champagne or Prosecco
Method
Shake all ingredients apart from the soda water with ice.
Fine strain into a tall glass filled with cubed ice.
Top with the Champagne or Prosecco.
Garnish with a mint sprig or candied mint leaves (see below)