Dry Martini
- Glass
- Cocktail glass
- Difficulty
- Easy
- ABV
- ~18%
Ingredients
- 2 ozgin60 ml
- ¾ ozfresh lime juice22 ml
- ¾ ozsimple syrup22 ml
- 8–10 leavesfresh mint leaves8–10 leaves
Instructions
Add the mint leaves to your shaker and give them a gentle press — not a muddle, just enough to wake them up. You want fragrance, not chlorophyll. Add the gin, lime juice, and simple syrup, then fill the shaker with ice. Shake hard for 10–12 seconds — this is a citrus drink, so it needs the dilution and the chill. Double-strain through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe to catch any mint fragments. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig, slapped between your palms to release the oils before it hits the glass.
Sips & Tips
Technique
The key is restraint with the mint. Press the leaves gently against the side of the shaker — you want the aromatic oils, not the bitter green juice that comes from aggressive muddling. Double-straining is non-negotiable here; a fine mesh strainer keeps the drink silky and clean.
Balance
This drink lives and dies by the balance of lime and sugar. Start with equal parts (¾ oz each) and taste your lime first — if it's particularly tart, nudge the syrup up to 1 oz. The gin should be present but not dominant; a floral New Western like Hendrick's is exceptional here.
History
The Southside has a contested origin — both the 21 Club in New York and the Southside Sportsmen's Club on Long Island claim it. What's certain is that it was a Prohibition-era staple, likely born from the need to mask the rough edges of bathtub gin with citrus and mint. It's essentially a gin Mojito, and there's nothing wrong with that.
The Southside is one of those drinks that looks simple but rewards attention to detail. Get the mint right, get the balance right, and you've got something genuinely elegant. Cheers.
Variations
Southside Royale
Top the finished drink with 1–2 oz of chilled Champagne or Prosecco before garnishing. The bubbles lift the mint and citrus beautifully — this is the version to make when you want to impress.
Southside with Cucumber
Add 3 thin slices of cucumber to the shaker along with the mint. Hendrick's gin is the obvious choice here — the cucumber-forward botanical profile amplifies the garnish into something genuinely special.
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Dry Martini
Glass: Cocktail glass | Difficulty: Easy | ABV: ~18%
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- ¾ oz fresh lime juice
- ¾ oz simple syrup
- 8–10 leaves fresh mint leaves
Instructions
Add the mint leaves to your shaker and give them a gentle press — not a muddle, just enough to wake them up. You want fragrance, not chlorophyll. Add the gin, lime juice, and simple syrup, then fill the shaker with ice. Shake hard for 10–12 seconds — this is a citrus drink, so it needs the dilution and the chill. Double-strain through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe to catch any mint fragments. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig, slapped between your palms to release the oils before it hits the glass.