Last Updated on November 9, 2022 by laurenpacek

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The Southside Cocktail is a sweet-tart, citrusy, gin drink. It's a classic cocktail that's very much worth knowing and drinking.

Know what makes it even better? It requires only a handful of ingredients and is super easy to shake up. But don't be deceived by its simplicity. It's delicious and quite refreshing.

What is a Southside cocktail?

The Southside is a classic drink that dates back to at least 1916. Was it named after the south side of Chicago? Or maybe the Southside Sportsmen's Club on Long Island, NY? The answer to both of those questions is a resounding "maybe." It's up for debate.

The Southside is made with fresh mint, lemon juice, simple syrup, and gin, and is typically served "up" in a Nick and Nora or coupe glass. Serving a drink "up" means that the drink is shaken/stirred/combined with ice to chill it, and then served without ice.

It's important to double strain this drink into your glass. That means that you'll strain the drink out of a hawthorne strainer (or the cap of your shaker, if that's the kind that you have) and through a fine mesh strainer. This will keep any bits of mint and shards of ice out of your drink.

Don't skip the garnish! Adding a sprig of fresh mint to your glass really makes the drink pop. Plus the aroma of the mint while you sip is lovely.

Ingredients

• Mint leaves: This recipe requires that you gently muddle fresh mint leaves in the bottom of your cocktail shaker. During the warmer months, I'll pop out to my garden and snip some fresh mint. Otherwise, I'll pick some up at the grocery store (it's in the produce section).
• Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed, please!
• Simple syrup: You can use store bought simple syrup or you can make your own at home! It's so easy and cost effective to do it at home, that I highly recommend it.
• Gin: Use your gin of choice. This isn't an ad, but I've been using Bar Hill Gin lately.
• Garnish: Use a sprig of fresh mint to garnish the drink.

How to make a Southside cocktail

It's very easy to shake this drink up! Start by gently muddling your mint with the lemon juice. You don't want to beat your mint up too much. It will result in bitter flavors that you don't want in your drink.

Add simple syrup and gin to the cocktail shaker, along with ice. I like to use a single big cube. This allows the drink to get chilled without being diluted unnecessarily. Shake until cold and double strain the drink into a coupe glass or Nick and Nora glass. Your choice.

Last, garnish your drink with a nice sprig of fresh mint.

Recommended tools

• Cocktail jigger
• Cocktail shaker
• Hawthorne strainer
• Fine mesh strainer
• Nick and Nora or coupe glasses

Other gin cocktails

Looking for more cocktails made with gin? I have more! And so do other excellent bloggers. Check out the links below and find another new favorite!

• Adios Mother F Drink from A Nerd Cooks
• Salty Dog Cocktail from Beaming Baker
• French 77 from A Nerd Cooks
• Blueberries and Gin Cocktail from The Gourmet Bon Vivant
• Cranberry Gin and Tonic from A Nerd Cooks
• Lavender and Gin Cocktail from Britney Breaks Bread
• French Gimlet from A Nerd Cooks

FAQs/Tips and tricks

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The Recipe

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