Like all Fizz cocktails, the Gin Fizz recipe is closely related to Sour and Collins Cocktails. Still, there are some small but noteworthy things that -in mixology- make all the difference.
Quick Facts Gin Fizz Cocktail
- Method: shaken
- Flavor profile: well-balanced, sweet and sour
- How to serve it: over ice
- Best glassware: highball glass
- Alcohol content: ~ 14% ABV, 19 grams of alcohol per serving
Now, before getting into detail about mentioned differences, let's look at the Gin Fizz recipe and the cocktail in general.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Gin
- 1 oz Fresh lemon juice
- 0.75 oz Simple syrup
- 1 Egg white
- 1 oz Cold soda water
Instructions
- Pour Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white into your cocktail shaker and shake without ice for 15 seconds (dry shake).2 oz Gin, 1 oz Fresh lemon juice, 0.75 oz Simple syrup, 1 Egg white
- Open the shaker, add ice to the mix, and shake again for a few seconds.
- Strain into a Highball glass over ice and carefully fill up the glass with ice-cold soda water.1 oz Cold soda water
Nutrition
Ingredients & Recommendations
Here's everything you need to make the classic Gin Fizz Cocktail to perfection:
- Which Gin? The Gin Fizz is a fantastic cocktail to experiment with the different types of gin. The drink has no component that could clash with the flavors. From traditional London Dry to floral or fruity New Western Gins, everything works. My current favorite is Bobby's Gin.
- Lemon juice: For the perfect Gin Fizz, it's absolutely crucial to use freshly squeezed juice. No pre-bottled store-bought version can possibly deliver on that zesty, tangy punch from fresh lemons.
- Syrup: The standard option for a Gin Fizz is regular simple syrup. However, this drink is perfectly suited for flavored syrups, as well. Find some recommendations below.
- Soda water: There's not a lot that can go wrong with soda water. Just make sure it hasn't been open for too long. You want some decent carbonation for a great Gin Fizz.
- Egg white: This is optional but adds a nice, frothy top.
Egg white in a Gin Fizz?
The egg white adds texture to the drink. It's not only the frothy top, but the whole cocktail obtains a smooth mouthfeel. Yet, the original recipe didn't include egg white, and also today, a Gin Fizz often goes over the bar counter without.
Some people just don't like the idea of raw egg white in a drink because they are concerned about the health risks. If you're reluctant to use egg, let me tell you that it is harmless. The alcohol kills most bacteria, and the lemon juice is also "cooking" the egg white.
However, if you're vegan or don't want or cannot consume eggs for other reasons, there's a perfect alternative called Aquafaba.
Tips & Best Practices
To get the best out of this classic recipe, you should consider a few things when preparing the gin cocktail:
For example, you can let your fresh lemon juice age for a short while. Sounds contradictory? It's not. Aging lemon juice means squeezing your lemon and letting the fresh juice sit for 4-10 hours. Due to a biochemical reaction, it will lose some of its bite and give the cocktail an even smoother, milder taste.
Further, to get the perfect texture, you should perform a dry shake. That's shaking your drink without ice and then with ice - or the other way around. That helps create foamy air bubbles in the egg white.
Variations
Besides experimenting with the different types of gin, you can also get creative with the syrup. The Gin Fizz leaves a lot of room to add flavor - and color.
For instance, add some beautiful subtle fruitiness or a floral aroma that will go perfectly with a floral New Western Dry Gin.
And flavored syrups can also alter the visual appearance of your Gin Fizz. For instance, with homemade hibiscus syrup or color-changing butterfly pea syrup, you can turn the cocktail pink.
If you want more inspiration, head to our section about homemade syrups for cocktails.
Difference between Gin Fizz and Tom Collins
The main difference is that a Tom Collins is always served without egg white, whereas the Gin Fizz often has a foamy egg white top. Plus, the preparation is different, as well:
For one, the ratios are different; the Fizz contains more lemon and less soda. Further, the Gin Fizz is shaken while the Tom Collins is built directly in the glass.
Another distinction is the garnish. A Gin Fizz comes with no garnish or just a lemon twist or wheel, while a classic Tom Collins usually features a cocktail cherry. -Details that make the difference.
History
The first time ever that a Gin Fizz recipe got printed was in the famous cocktail book of Jerry Thomas - The Bartenders Guide. That was back in 1876, a starting point for the Fizz cocktails.
It took a few years until the cocktail gained traction. But in the early 1900s, the Gin Fizz cocktail became really popular.
Traditionally the Gin Fizz was served in a small glass with sugar and Holland Gin - referring to Genever, a predecessor of the popular spirit.
Jerry Thomas also included a version that contained egg white in the same book under the name Silver Fizz. The -for the time- unusual, new, and refreshing blend also led to many other closely related recipes.
Related Drinks
Due to the popularity of the Gin Fizz, other famous classics like the Ramos Gin Fizz and the Sloe Gin Fizz evolved. The Ramos Gin Fizz adds heavy cream and orange flower water, while the Sloe Gin Fizz replaces regular Gin with Sloe Gin.
Another close relative is the Gin Sour. The list of ingredients is similar to the Fizz, but the recipe doesn't include soda.
Nailed it at first try! Thanks for the easy step-by-step guide to make a Gin Fizz. It's one my favorite drinks to have