Southside Fizz

Here’s one of the most refreshing cocktails out there: a Southside Fizz! A cousin of the Southside Cocktail, this gin cocktail features bright citrus, herbaceous mint, and fizzy soda water. It’s tart and fizzy, perfect for drinks on the patio, a daytime brunch drink, or a wintertime cocktail when you’re dreaming of summer. Alex and I are big fans of citrus cocktails (the Margarita, Paloma, and Lime Daiquiri are all at the top of our list). So this Southside Fizz is right up our alley. Here’s how to make it!

What’s a Southside Fizz?

A Southside Fizz is the Southside Cocktail with soda water. What’s a Southside? It’s a cocktail made with mint, lemon, lime, and gin. The best way to describe it? A Tom Collins + a Mojito! Here’s exactly what’s in a Southside Fizz:

GinLemon juiceLime juiceMintSimple syrup or maple syrupSoda water

How the Southside Fizz got its name

There are so many intriguing cocktail names: Greyhound, Salty Dog, Hanky Panky… if you’re like us, you want to know where the name came from! There are a few theories on this one: the most prominent are these (source):

Some people say the name came from the Southside Sportsmen’s Club on Long Island.A more interesting theory is that the term refers to the South Side of Chicago. It may have been a favorite of Al Capone, whose gang dominated the South Side!

Either way, the sweet tart, fizzy flavor of this drink makes it easy to drink and a crowd favorite.

How to muddle mint…the right way!

This Southside Fizz cocktail requires muddling the mint before making the drink. What is it? Muddling is gently mashing herbs or fruits to release their juices. This helps the flavors incorporate better, vs if you simply threw in the mint lives on their own. Here’s how to muddle mint…the right way:

Step 1: Place the mint leaves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. If you don’t have one, you can use a large metal cup or bowl.Step 2: Using a wooden cocktail muddler or unfinished wooden spoon, gently mash the mint a few times to release the juices. The key to muddling is a light touch, so don’t go overboard.

Why do you have to smack the mint garnish?

You’ll notice the garnish for this Southside Fizz calls to smack the mint. Wait, smack it? Yes, giving the mint leaf a gentle smack between your hands releases the essential oils in the mint. This gives the drink a much more herb-forward flavor! It’s perfect for garnishes in drinks like a Southside, Mojito, or Basil Gimlet. Read more about smacking herbs for cocktails here.

Step it up: make clear ice!

Want to step up your game on this Southside Fizz cocktail? Use clear ice. What is it? Clear ice is artisanal ice used in cocktails because of its crystal clear look and beautiful organic shapes. Alex is very into clear ice, and you can see from the photos that it really steps up the look of this drink! You can make clear ice at home and it’s so easy! Go to How to Make Clear Ice. All you need is a small cooler and 24 hours, and your cocktails will look extra stunning.