Southside, is a real alcoholic refreshment and a beautifully mint-fragranced companion for a lazy weekend!
I know. And you know. I think that, by now, we all know what a mojito is. Mojitos are so easy to make and so refreshing, that whenever people have mint in their possession they just make mojitos. But (believe it or not) this is not the only cocktail in which you may use the mint as a basic aromatic ingredient. Southside is one great example of a similarly easy and refreshing cocktail as the mojito. And guess what: It was first created during the most America’s puzzling era. Yes, the Southside cocktail was very likely born inside a Speakeasy during the years of Prohibition (1920-1933). I love the version of this juniper-citrus concoction, that I have read in the Speakeasy book from New York’s Employees Only Bar. “We do not recommend double straining it; that would reduce the body and the ornamental presence of the shaken mint” describe Jason Kosmas & Dushan Zaric, authors of the book. Follow this nice tip and you will be able to enjoy a crisp drink full of mint essences. But first do as described below:
- 60 ml (2 oz) Plymouth gin
- 30 ml (1 oz) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 15 ml (½ oz) simple sugar syrup (1:1 ratio)
- 6-7 mint leaves
- 1 splash soda
Add the gin, lemon juice, syrup and the mint leaves in a mixing glass. Add lots of ice and shake vigorously. Add the club soda into a chilled cocktail glass. Then strain the shaken liquid into the glass and garnish with a lemon peel as pictured. Enjoy!