Gin Fizz
The Gin Fizz is a sparkling classic from the sour family: gin, fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup are shaken, then soda is added. The first printed recipe appears in Jerry Thomas' Bar-Tender's Guide of 1876. The IBA lists it among The Unforgettables. We mix ours with Wanderlust Gin and serve it over ice in a highball glass.
- Preparation time
- 5 minutes
- Servings
- 1 drink
- Difficulty
- medium
- Method
- Shaken, then topped up
- Glass
- Highball glass over ice
- Garnish
- Lemon zest
Ingredients
- 5cl THE DUKE Wanderlust Gin
- 3 cl fresh lemon juice
- 2 cl sugar syrup
- soda water
Preparation
- Add gin, fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup to the shaker.
- Shake hard with ice until the shaker frosts on the outside.
- Double strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
- Top up with soda water.
- Stir gently and garnish with a lemon zest.
Shake gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup vigorously in a shaker with ice. Then double strain into a highball glass filled with ice, pour in soda water and stir carefully. Finally garnish with a lemon zest.
Tips
- Never shake the soda. The carbonation escapes and the pressure can blow the shaker open.
- Strain first, then top up. That is the only way the fizz stays lively.
- Classically the fizz is served without ice in a smaller glass and drunk quickly. Over ice in a highball it stays cold longer.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice makes the biggest difference. Bottled juice tastes flat.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Gin Fizz and a Tom Collins?
Both are gin, lemon juice, sugar and soda. The fizz is shaken and classically served without ice in a smaller glass, with just a splash of soda, to be drunk quickly while it sparkles. The Collins is built over ice in a tall glass and topped with more soda. We serve our fizz over ice in a highball glass.
Why is the soda not shaken with the rest?
Carbonation does not survive a shaker: it escapes, the drink goes flat, and the pressure can blow the shaker open. So only gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup are shaken hard with ice. The soda goes in once the drink is in the glass and is stirred in gently, which keeps the fizz lively.
Which fizz variations are there?
The family is large: the Silver Fizz takes egg white, the Golden Fizz egg yolk, the Royal Fizz a whole egg, and the Ramos Gin Fizz from New Orleans adds cream and orange blossom water. The Sloe Gin Fizz swaps gin for sloe gin. Here you will find the Sloe Gin Fizz, the Royal Gin Fizz and the Oh Honey Gin Fizz.