The South Side cocktail is a refreshing, minty-citrusy classic that combines the spicy character of gin with the zing of lime and the cooling freshness of mint. It’s a bit like the Mojito and the Gimlet met somewhere on the South Side of Chicago and strolled into a jazz bar together. The South Side cocktail is neither flashy nor over-the-top – it is simply clean, cool, and perfectly balanced.
Story
Several legends surround the origins of the South Side. According to one of the best-known versions, the cocktail became popular in the 1920s, during the Prohibition era, in the South Side district of Chicago, where people used mint and citrus juice to mask the taste of lower-quality gin. Another story links the drink to New York’s 21 Club, where it became a favorite among its aristocratic clientele. Whichever story is true, the South Side remains one of the finest examples of a refreshing summer cocktail to this day.
Ingredients
2 oz (60 ml) gin
1 oz (30 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice (or lemon juice)
½ oz (15 ml) sugar syrup (a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water, though it can be made sweeter using a 2:1 ratio)
6–8 fresh mint leaves
How to Make a South Side Cocktail
Place the mint leaves in a shaker, add the lime juice and sugar syrup, then gently muddle them with a muddler (or the end of a bar spoon) to release the essential oils. However, crushing the leaves too vigorously tends to bring out their bitter notes rather than their sweet, aromatic qualities, so it’s worth being gentle here. Next, add the gin and ice, then shake thoroughly. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. If you want a completely smooth drink, double-strain it through a fine-mesh strainer.
Serving and Garnish
The South Side cocktail is traditionally served in a coupe or classic cocktail glass, without ice. Garnish it with a small sprig of mint or, alternatively, a twist of lime zest.
Calorie Content
A single serving of a South Side cocktail contains approximately 160–180 calories, mainly due to the gin and sugar syrup.