The Southside Fizz: A Complete History & Classic Recipe

The Southside Fizz is a cocktail that captures summertime in a tall, cold glass—mint brushing against citrus, gin shimmering with botanical brightness, bubbles climbing like tiny bursts of laughter. It’s refreshing, elegant, and timeless.

Though often overshadowed by its shorter sibling, the Southside (or South Side), the Southside Fizz is the taller, lighter, more effervescent expression of the same classic template. Imagine a Mojito’s relaxed garden charm married to the London dry precision of a Gimlet.

The result? A highball that feels both old-world and unmistakably modern.It’s the essence of long afternoons, white tennis clothes on green courts, roaring clubs in Prohibition Chicago, and today’s breezy patio bars.

This is the complete story of the Southside Fizz—its origins, evolution, cultural footprint, and the definitive recipe for making the perfect one today.

I. Origins

A Drink with Multiple Birthplaces

The Southside and its sparkling sibling, the Southside Fizz, have one of the murkier origin stories in classic cocktail history—appropriate for a drink that straddles both elite and underground worlds.

There are two major origin theories:

1. The Chicago Bootlegger Story

Some accounts place the drink in Prohibition-era Chicago, particularly with the South Side gang led by Johnny Torrioand Al Capone. Legend holds they used mint, citrus, and sugar to smooth the harshness of bootleg gin.While romantic, this version is almost certainly myth—but culturally significant.

2. The Country Club Theory

A more plausible origin places the Southside in the upscale northeastern country clubs of the early 20th century.Names often cited:

• The Southside Sportsmen’s Club on Long Island

• British officers' clubs with similar mint-gin drinks

• New York’s elite golf and tennis circles

These contexts align more plausibly with the craft and aesthetics of the drink.

The Birth of the Fizz

The Fizz variation appears in print by the 1910s and 1920s, following the popularity of:

• Gin Fizzes

• Silver Fizzes

• Collins-style long drinks

It likely developed organically as bartenders lengthened the Southside with soda water for a lighter, refreshing build.

II. Historical Evolution

Early Family Tree

The Southside Fizz belongs to a family of mint-and-citrus drinks including:

• The Southside

• The Eastside (cucumber version)

• The Gin Rickey

• The Mojito’s British botanical cousins

Prohibition Era

Both the short and fizz versions gained traction during Prohibition—mint and citrus were popular ways to mask inferior spirits.

Mid-century Dormancy

As cocktail culture shifted after WWII toward highballs and simple mixed drinks, the Southside and its fizz variant receded into niche menus.

Modern Revival

With the cocktail renaissance of the 2000s–2010s, bartenders reclaimed:

• Mint cocktails

• Gin-based garden drinks

• Classic citrus templates

The Southside Fizz resurfaced as:

• A brunch staple

• A patio drink favorite

• A warm-weather classic

• A foundational “crushable” highball in craft bars

It is now one of the most popular long gin drinks worldwide.

III. Ingredients & Technique

While simple on paper, the Southside Fizz demands precision and freshness.

Gin

Choose a gin with:

• Strong juniper backbone

• Bright citrus

• Herbaceous liftLondon dry is ideal.Overly floral or delicate gins get lost under mint and soda.

Mint

The soul of the drink.Key notes:

• Spearmint preferred

• Fresh, bright leaves only

• Gentle handling → vibrant aroma

• Over-muddling → bitterness

Citrus

Fresh lime juice is standard.Lemon is a valid historical variant, but lime is the modern default.

Sweetener

Simple syrup (1:1) for classic clarity.Keeps the profile bright and clean.

Soda Water

Adds lift and length.The bubble structure matters—use highly carbonated soda if possible.

Technique

Shake the base (gin, citrus, mint, syrup) to integrate flavor, then top with soda.Avoid vigorous mint muddling—press lightly.

IV. Cultural Significance

A Bridge Between Eras

The Southside Fizz connects:

• Edwardian garden parties

• Prohibition nightclubs

• Mid-century sports clubs

• Modern rooftop bars

It’s a cocktail that adapts to its surroundings while staying true to its refreshing identity.

A Gin Ambassador

Just as the Mojito champions rum, the Southside Fizz showcases gin in its most accessible, crowd-pleasing form. It converts gin skeptics and delights aficionados alike.

Modern Popularity

Today you’ll find it:

• On brunch menus

• At summer weddings

• At golf clubs and pool bars

• On rooftop cocktail lists

• In "session cocktail" sections at high-end bars

It is universally loved without being ubiquitous.

V. How to Make the Classic Version Today

Recipe — The Classic Southside Fizz

Ingredients

• 2 oz (60 ml) London dry gin

• 1 oz (30 ml) fresh lime juice

• 0.75 oz (22 ml) simple syrup

• 6–8 fresh mint leaves

• Soda water

• Mint bouquet or lime wheel, for garnish

Method

1. Add mint leaves, lime juice, syrup, and gin to a shaker.

2. Gently press mint with a muddler (do not grind).

3. Add ice and shake for 8–10 seconds.

4. Strain into a chilled highball glass filled with ice.

5. Top with chilled soda water.

6. Garnish with a tall mint sprig or lime wheel.

Specs

• Glass: Highball or Collins

• Ice: Cubes

• Garnish: Mint bouquet (tall sprig) or lime wheel

• Style: Long, carbonated gin-mint citrus highball

Technique Notes

• Smack the mint sprig before garnishing to awaken aromatics.

• Use the coldest soda water you can—high bubbles matter.

• If using lemon instead of lime, decrease syrup slightly.

• Press mint only once or twice; overworking = grassy bitterness.

Variations & Lineage

• Eastside Fizz: Add cucumber + a pinch of salt

• Southside Royale: Top with sparkling wine instead of soda

• Southside Smash: More mint, more citrus, shorter format

• Coconut Southside Fizz: Add coconut water for tropical lift

• Mezcal Southside Fizz: Split base with smoky agave character

Service & Pairing Tip

• Ideal with seafood, salads, grilled vegetables, Mediterranean dishes, and spicy food.

• A perfect poolside or patio drink—light, aromatic, refreshing.

VI. Modern Variations & Legacy

A Template for Modern Garden Cocktails

The Southside Fizz helped establish a category of:

• Herbaceous

• Citrus-forward

• Long, bubbly cocktails

It inspired countless riffs with basil, thyme, lavender, rosemary, and seasonal produce.

Timeless Appeal

The drink remains beloved because it:

• Feels familiar yet elevated

• Is deeply refreshing

• Balances mint and citrus perfectly

• Offers a versatile base for creativity

• Translates effortlessly across settings

Legacy

The Southside Fizz sits alongside the Mojito, Tom Collins, and Gin Rickey as one of the great long citrus cocktails in history—a refreshing, elegant staple that bridges eras, palates, and cultures.