Southside

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What Is a Southside Cocktail?

The Southside is a classic gin sour made with gin, fresh lime juice, simple syrup and fresh mint, shaken and strained into a chilled coupe. It's sometimes described as a gin Mojito served up, or a minty Gimlet, and both are good descriptions. It's bright, cool and herbaceous, and it's one of the most refreshing gin drinks you can make.

Some recipes use lemon juice instead of lime, and both versions have a long history. Lime makes a sharper, more tropical drink, while lemon is a little softer and rounder. Either way, the combination of juniper and mint is the heart of the drink.

A Brief History of the Southside

The Southside's origins are hazy, and several places claim it.

Chicago's South Side

The most colorful story says the drink was popular with gangsters on Chicago's South Side during Prohibition, where the sugar, citrus and mint helped hide the harsh taste of bootleg gin. Rival gangs on the North Side were said to drink their gin with ginger ale instead. It's a fun story, but there's little hard evidence for it.

Long Island and the 21 Club

Another theory traces the drink to the Southside Sportsmen's Club on Long Island, a private hunting and fishing club for wealthy New Yorkers, where a long, minty gin drink was served in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Southside later became a signature drink at New York's famous 21 Club, a former speakeasy, which helped make it a classic. The Southside's Wikipedia entry covers these competing claims.

Flavor Profile and What to Expect

The Southside opens with a big aroma of fresh mint, followed by a crisp, tart citrus hit and the botanical character of gin. The simple syrup balances the acid so the drink is neither too sour nor too sweet. Gently muddled or shaken mint gives it a cool, green, almost grassy freshness without bitterness. It's light-bodied and very drinkable, especially on a hot day.

Tips for a Perfect Southside

Treat the Mint Gently

Don't pulverize the mint. Bruising it too hard releases bitter, grassy flavors. Simply shaking the leaves hard with ice releases plenty of mint oil, or you can press them lightly in the bottom of the shaker before adding the other ingredients.

Double Strain

Strain through a fine mesh strainer as well as your shaker's strainer to catch bits of mint and ice. This gives a cleaner, silkier drink.

Use Fresh Citrus

Freshly squeezed lime juice is essential. Bottled juice tastes flat and can make the drink taste harsh. If you're making your own syrup, our guide on how to make simple syrup takes just a few minutes.

Popular Variations

Southside Fizz

Serve the drink over ice in a tall glass and top it with soda water for a longer, lighter highball. It's similar to a minty Gin Fizz.

Southside Royale

Top the Southside with champagne for a sparkling, celebratory drink in the spirit of the French 75.

Eastside

Add a few slices of cucumber to the shaker with the mint for an Eastside, an even cooler, more garden-fresh version.

Herbal Cousins

If you love herbs in your drinks, try the Gin Basil Smash, the bourbon-based Whiskey Smash, or the classic Mint Julep.

How to Serve a Southside

Serve the Southside straight up in a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish it with a fresh mint leaf or sprig floating on top. Slap the mint between your palms first to wake up its aroma. For the Fizz version, use a highball glass with ice and a mint sprig.

Choosing the Right Gin

Because the Southside has so few ingredients, the gin has a big effect on flavor. A classic London dry gin, with strong juniper and citrus notes, gives a crisp, traditional drink that stands up to the mint. Softer, more floral modern gins make a gentler, more aromatic Southside, and gins with herbal or green botanicals, like cucumber or basil, work beautifully with the mint. Avoid heavily sweetened or flavored gins, which can make the drink cloying. Whatever you choose, use a bottle you'd be happy to drink in a simple gin and tonic.

Lime or Lemon?

The 21 Club's version used lemon, while many modern bars use lime. Lime makes a sharper, zingier drink that leans toward a Mojito, while lemon gives a softer, rounder flavor. Try both and see which you prefer.

Food Pairings and Occasions

The Southside's bright, fresh flavor pairs well with light dishes: grilled shrimp, fish tacos, salads, cucumber sandwiches and goat cheese. It's a natural choice for summer parties, garden brunches, golf club afternoons and backyard barbecues. Its clean, refreshing flavor also makes it a good aperitif before a big dinner.

Why People Love the Southside

The Southside is simple, elegant and easy to love. It takes the familiar flavors of a Mojito and gives them a sharper, more grown-up gin edge, and it's quick to make with ingredients most home bars already have. For more ideas, see our guide to the best gin cocktails to make at home, or compare specs with the Southside recipe on Difford's Guide.