As we get ready to head into Memorial Day Weekend, I thought we could all use a cocktail to kick off the unofficial start of summer – and this Southside Cocktail is perfect for it! Southsides are in the daiquiri family – not the frozen overly sweet ones that come to mind, but the real, classic daiquiris that are shaken up with just 3 simple ingredients – rum, lime, and simple. Had you asked me 10 years ago what my “signature” drink was, I’d say a daiquiri. But lately my tune has changed and my new favorite is the Southside.
cocktail techniques:
Double Straining
This technique is great for drinks that aren’t served over ice. The 1st strain is from the cocktail shaker through the primary strainer (usually holes at the top of your shaker or a Hawthorne strainer) and then while pouring into the serving glass, the 2nd strain is through a finer mesh strainer to remove any tiny pieces of ice, herbs, or citrus pulp.
My Southside Cocktail recipe is nearly as simple as a daiquiri, but features the spirit that I used to hate most but have since fallen in love with: GIN. I absolutely love the bright herbal flavors and the variety of gins you can find. Keep scrolling for some gin recommendations…to be fair, I’ve only ever tried one gin that I really didn’t like, so it’s more of a collection of the gins I’ve tried so far. They’re all a little different, but just about any of them are perfect in a Southside. Just add lime, simple, fresh mint, and a couple dashes of orange bitters if you dare. Shake it all up and you’ve got a dangerously crushable and refreshing cocktail!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Here’s what you’ll need to recreate this Southside Cocktail recipe at home:
- Gin – Whatever gin you like will work in this cocktail! I’ve tried it with Ford’s Gin and Plymouth Gin and both were great.
- Lime juice – One of the foundational ingredients in the traditional Southside. You can always play with ratios to match your tastes. I haven’t tried this cocktail with other citrus juices though.
- Simple syrup – A little bit of simple syrup helps balance out the acidity from the lime juice. You can definitely play with the ratio of simple syrup to match your tastes, but I don’t recommend skipping it entirely.
- Orange bitters – This is an optional ingredient, but one that I’ve come to really enjoy in my cocktails. Just 1 to 2 dashes gives an extra bit of complexity to this drink without leaving a bitter aftertaste. Think of bitters like seasoning, except for drinks – the right amount makes the flavors so much better!
- Mint leaves – Here’s where the Southside differs from similar cocktails and gets a really great aroma and flavor. Be sure to use fresh mint leaves and double strain your drink to avoid any chunks of mint in the final product.
all about spirits
Gin
Gin is distilled from grains and primarily flavored with juniper. It’s known for herbal and botanical notes that come from infusions of herbs, spices, flowers, and fruits. The flavors can be incredibly complex (and delicious).
Here are some gins that I’ve tried, enjoyed, and recommend:
- Citadelle Gin – A versatile gin with plenty of flavor and a gorgeous bottle.
- Plymouth Gin – Another versatile gin that you can’t go wrong with. The flavor isn’t overpowering, so it’s great for mixing.
- Barr Hill Gin – Small batch gin that’s slightly sweet thanks to honey. Can get lost if mixing with this one.
- St. George’s Botanivore Gin – Slightly spicy and herbal, this one has stronger, more distinctive flavors than some others on this list.
- Hendrick’s Gin – A benchmark type of gin with traditional herbal flavor that’s also infused with rose and cucumber.
- Ford’s Gin – An easy going gin that’s less expensive and great for mixing.
- Empress 1908 Gin (Indigo) – A milder gin with gorgeous purple color that changes to pink when mixed with acidic ingredients.
- The Botanist Gin – A more robust gin with traditional flavors at a reasonable price.
Shop for This Recipe
Here are some items I used to help make this recipe a success. And if you want some of those cute little clips that I used to attach a mint bouquet to the glass, check these out.
Recipe
Southside Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- 3/4 oz simple syrup
- 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
- 1-2 dashes orange bitters
- 5 mint leaves
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 5-10 seconds until chilled, then double strain into a chilled coupe.
Nutrition Information
For my macro trackers out there, I wasn’t able to create a My Fitness Pal barcode for this recipe since I would have had to decide for you whether to put the alcohol calories in as carbs or fats – that’s up to you! The 16 grams of carbs listed here are just for the sugar in the simple syrup and lime juice. For my non-macro trackers, here’s more info on what I’m talking about.
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