Eastside

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What Is an Eastside Cocktail?

The Eastside is a crisp, garden-fresh gin sour made with gin, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, muddled cucumber and fresh mint leaves. Shaken hard and fine-strained into a chilled coupe, it is pale green, aromatic and incredibly refreshing, like a spa day in a glass. It is essentially the classic Southside with the addition of cucumber, a small change that makes a big difference.

Since its creation in the early 2000s, the Eastside has become a modern classic and a staple of craft cocktail menus around the world, beloved by gin fans and newcomers alike.

A Brief History of the Eastside

The Eastside is generally credited to bartender George Delgado, who created it around 2004 at Libation, a bar on New York's Lower East Side. Delgado was riffing on the Southside, a gin, lime, sugar and mint sour with roots in the Prohibition era, often linked to Chicago's South Side or the Southside Sportsmen's Club on Long Island. By adding muddled cucumber, he gave the drink a cooler, greener flavor, and the neighborhood name followed naturally.

The timing was perfect. The early 2000s saw the rise of the craft cocktail movement in New York, with bartenders reviving classics and emphasizing fresh produce. Cucumber was having its moment too, thanks in part to the popularity of cucumber-forward gins. The Eastside spread from bar to bar and has since been called "the anti-vodka soda" for its ability to win over drinkers who want something light and clean but more interesting. For a deeper look, see Food Republic's Eastside feature.

Flavor Profile and What to Expect

The Eastside opens with a burst of cool cucumber and fresh mint on the nose. The first sip is tart and bright from the lime, balanced by just enough sweetness from the simple syrup. Gin's juniper and botanical notes weave through the middle, complementing the herbal mint, while cucumber adds a clean, crisp, almost watery freshness that lightens the whole drink. The finish is dry and refreshing, with lingering mint.

If you like the Gimlet but want something more aromatic, or love the Mojito but prefer gin to rum, the Eastside is an ideal match.

How to Make the Perfect Eastside

Place two slices of cucumber in a cocktail shaker and muddle them well to release their juice. Add six to eight mint leaves and press them gently; you want to release their oils without shredding them, which can make the drink bitter. Add two ounces of gin, one ounce of fresh lime juice and three-quarters of an ounce of simple syrup. Fill the shaker with ice and shake hard for 12 to 15 seconds. Double-strain through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe, and garnish with a thin cucumber wheel floated on top.

Double-straining is the secret to a polished Eastside, removing tiny bits of mint and cucumber for a smooth, clear drink. A London dry gin gives a classic juniper-forward profile, while softer, cucumber- or floral-leaning gins create a more delicate version. Always use freshly squeezed lime juice.

Choosing Your Cucumber

English or Persian cucumbers are the best choice for cocktails because they have thin skin, few seeds and a sweet, mild flavor. Leaving the skin on adds color and a slightly more vegetal taste. The cucumber plant has been cultivated for thousands of years, and you can learn more about it on Wikipedia's cucumber page.

Popular Variations

The most popular variation is the Eastside Fizz, which is served tall over ice and topped with club soda or sparkling wine for a lighter, bubblier drink. Some bartenders swap the gin for vodka, though this loses some of the botanical complexity. Others add a splash of elderflower liqueur for a floral note, similar to a Hugo spritz. Swapping the mint for basil creates something close to a Gin Basil Smash, and adding muddled watermelon gives a summery pink version reminiscent of a Watermelon Mint Mojito.

How to Serve It

Serve the Eastside straight up in a chilled coupe or martini glass, garnished with a cucumber wheel floating on the surface or a small mint leaf. For a more casual serve, strain it over fresh ice in a rocks glass. For a party, muddle the cucumber and mint in a pitcher with the gin, lime and syrup, then shake individual servings to order so each drink stays bright and frothy.

Food Pairings and Occasions

The Eastside's fresh, herbaceous character makes it a natural partner for light, bright food. Try it with sushi, ceviche, oysters, shrimp cocktail, Vietnamese summer rolls or Greek salads with feta. It is a great choice for brunch, bridal showers, garden parties and warm-weather dinners on the patio. For more refreshing ideas, explore our spring cocktails and summer cocktails.

Why People Love the Eastside

The Eastside captures everything that makes modern cocktails great: fresh ingredients, balance and simplicity. It is easy to make with things you can find at any grocery store, it looks beautiful in the glass and it is supremely refreshing. It is equally at home in a high-end cocktail bar or at a backyard barbecue. For a step-by-step version with photos, check out this Eastside recipe from Feast + West. Once you try one, you may find yourself reaching for cucumber and mint every time the weather warms up.