I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Summer cocktails should be refreshing sippers that are easy to make. That means just a few ingredients that bring a lot to the drink. One of my all-time favorite drink flavors for hot summer days is mint. It’s cooling and delicious and, I think, criminally underrepresented in the cocktail world. Imagine my delight then when I recently came across an old-school cocktail (the recipe dates back to the prohibition era) that combines mint and citrus with gin to make an incredibly easy and summery drink. Meet: the southside.
What Makes the Southside Cocktail So Great
Think of the southside as what would happen if a mojito and a margarita had a baby. It’s got the mint of a mojito and the fresh citrus kick of a margarita, anchored by the floral flavor of gin. It’s super simple to make and tastes like peak summer. It’s also easy to scale up if you want to make enough for a group. What more could you ask for on a sweaty summer day?
How to Make a Southside Cocktail
- Combine the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Add 4 to 5 sprigs of mint, 1 ounce of simple syrup, 1 ounce of lemon or lime juice, and 2 ounces of gin to a cocktail shaker with a few ice cubes and shake well.
- Pour over ice and garnish. Strain the cocktail into a low ball glass halfway filled with ice and garnish with a sprig of mint and/or a slice of citrus. Enjoy!
If You’re Making a Southside Cocktail, a Few Tips
- Use the citrus you’ve got. This drink is delicious with lemon or lime juice, or a combination of both.
- Make it a southside fizz. The only thing more refreshing than a citrusy, minty cocktail is a fizzy one. Strain the drink into a slightly taller glass and top with a splash of club soda for a fizzy refresher.