The Southside Fizz is a refreshing mint, lemon, lime and gin cocktail: Tom Collins + a mojito! Top up with sparkling water for a glow.
Here’s one of the most refreshing cocktails: a Southside Fizz! A cousin of the Southside cocktail, this gin cocktail features bright citrus, herbaceous mint and sparkling soda water. It’s tangy and sparkling, perfect for a drink on the patio, a daytime brunch or a winter cocktail when you’re dreaming of summer. Alex and I are big fans of citrus cocktails (the Margarita, Paloma, and Lime Daiquiri are top of our list). Then this Southside Fizz is for us. That’s how it’s done!
What is a Southside Fizz?
A Southside Fizz is the Southside cocktail made with carbonated water. What is a south side? It’s a mint, lemon, lime and gin cocktail. What is the best way to describe it? A Tom Collins + a mojito! That’s exactly what’s in a Southside Fizz:
How the Southside Fizz got its name
There are so many intriguing cocktail names out there: Greyhound, Salty Dog, Hanky Panky… if you’re anything like us, you’ll want to know where the name came from! There are a few theories, the main ones are these (source):
- Some people say the name comes from the Southside Sportsmen’s Club on Long Island.
- A more interesting theory is that the term refers to the south side of Chicago. He may have been a favorite of Al Capone, whose gang ruled the South Side!
Either way, the tangy, bubbly flavor of this drink makes it easy to drink and a crowd pleaser.
How to muddle mint… the right way!
For this Southside Fizz cocktail, the mint must be stirred before preparing the drink. What is that? Grinding gently crushes herbs or fruits to release their juice. This will help the flavors blend better compared to just tossing in the mint. Here’s how to muddle mint…right:
- Step 1: Place the mint leaves in the bottom of a shaker. If you don’t have one, you can use a large metal mug or bowl.
- 2nd step: Use a wooden cocktail pestle or unfinished wooden spoon, soft Mash the mint several times to release the juice. The key to confusion is a light touch, so don’t overdo it.
Why do you need to hit the mint garnish?
You’ll notice that the filling of this Southside Fizz is reminiscent of mint. wait, strike? Yes, giving the mint leaf a gentle smack between your hands will release the mint essential oils. This gives the drink a much grassier taste! It is perfect for garnishing drinks such as Southside, Mojito or Basil Gimlet. Learn more about using herbs in cocktails here.
Step up: make transparent ice!
Looking to up your game with this Southside Fizz cocktail? Use clear ice. What is that? Clear ice is artisanal ice used in cocktails because of its crystalline appearance and beautiful organic shapes. Alex really likes clear ice and you can see from the photos that it really enhances the look of this drink!
You can make clear ice at home and it’s that easy! Go to How to make transparent ice. All you need is a small cooler and 24 hours and your cocktails will be even more stunning.
When to serve a Southside Fizz
A Southside Fizz is perfect for parties and entertaining, or for a casual evening sipping alone! It’s great like:
The description
The Southside Fizz is a refreshing mint, lemon, lime and gin cocktail: Tom Collins + a mojito! Top up with mineral water for a glow.
- 6 mint leaves
- 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) gin
- ½ ounce (1 tbsp) lemon juice
- ½ ounce (1 tbsp) lime juice
- ½ ounce (1 tbsp) simple syrup or maple syrup
- 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) Carbonated water
- For garnish: lemon zest and 1 mint leaf
- Place the mint leaves in a shaker and crush (see Crushing the Mint).
- Pour the gin, lemon juice, lime juice and syrup into the shaker. Fill with ice and shake until cool.
- Strain into a chilled highball glass. Top up with sparkling water and garnish with an additional mint leaf (clap between hands to release the oils) and lemon wedge.
- Category: drink
- Method: shakes
- Kitchen: cocktail
