Southside
Alessandro Scire CalabrisottoShare
Crisp, herbaceous and impossibly refreshing, the Southside is what happens when a Mojito and a Gin Sour meet on a summer afternoon. With its bright lime, fragrant mint and clean gin backbone, it is the kind of drink that has graced country clubs and grand hotels alike — a timeless cooler with a whiff of old-world glamour.
History of the Southside
The Southside is a classic gin cocktail whose precise origins are the subject of friendly debate. One popular account links it to Chicago during the Prohibition era, suggesting it was a way to make rough bootleg gin more palatable by masking it with sugar, citrus and mint. Another tradition associates the drink with New York's celebrated 21 Club and with elite East Coast country clubs, where it became a fixture of refined summer drinking.
Whatever its true birthplace, the Southside has endured as a benchmark of elegant simplicity. Essentially a gin-based cousin of the Mojito, it swaps rum for gin and presents the same winning combination of citrus and mint in a more botanical, sophisticated form. Its lasting appeal lies in that effortless balance of sharp, sweet and aromatic.
Recipe: How to Make a Classic Southside
Ingredients:
- 60 ml (2 oz) gin
- 22.5 ml (0.75 oz) fresh lime juice
- 22.5 ml (0.75 oz) simple syrup
- 6 to 8 fresh mint leaves
Instructions:
- Add the mint leaves to a cocktail shaker along with the lime juice and simple syrup, and gently press to release the mint's aroma.
- Add the gin and fill the shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for around 12 to 15 seconds until well chilled.
- Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a fresh mint sprig.
Tips for Perfection:
- Press the mint gently rather than pulverising it — over-muddling releases bitter compounds from the leaves.
- Always use freshly squeezed lime juice for the brightest, cleanest flavour.
- Double-strain to keep stray mint fragments out of the glass for a polished finish.
Additional Recommendations
Variations:
- Southside Fizz: topped with soda water and served over ice in a tall glass for a longer drink.
- Southside Royale: finished with a splash of sparkling wine for a celebratory edge.
- Cucumber Southside: adding a few slices of cucumber for an extra layer of cooling freshness.
Pairings:
- Fresh summer salads with citrus dressing.
- Grilled white fish or seafood.
- Light goat's cheese canapés.
Presentation:
- Serve straight up in a chilled coupe for an elegant, classic look.
- Crown with a generous mint sprig, lightly clapped between the hands to release its fragrance.
Curiosity: A Fun Fact About the Southside
The Southside is often described as a Mojito in black tie — it shares the same DNA of mint, citrus and sugar, but by exchanging rum for gin and serving it up in a coupe, it transforms a tropical cooler into a drink fit for the most formal of summer occasions.