Some of the tastiest cocktails (think the martini, the Manhattan, the margarita) are also the simplest. At a time when it's not unusual to walk into a cocktail bar and see drinks with seven or eight ingredients on the menu, it can be refreshing to look back to the simpler drinks of a bygone era. Here are four cocktails, all variations on the humble gin sour, that thrilled pre-Prohibition drinkers with their simple elegance.
First up: the gin sour. Three ingredients: lemon, sugar, and gin, in perfect balance.
The Gin Sour
makes 1 cocktail
2 oz gin
.75 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
.75 oz simple syrup
Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice; shake and strain into a cocktail glass.
You can completely alter the character of this drink by adding one tiny thing: a few dashes of bitters. With the addition of the bitters, it's a Fitzgerald; obviously a cousin of the gin sour, but a bit deeper, richer, and more grown-up.
The Fitzgerald
makes 1 cocktail
2 oz gin
.75 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
.75 oz simple syrup
2 dashes angostura bitters
Now, if we were to take the original gin sour and substitute lime juice for the lemon, then we would have a gimlet (which will be discussed in some detail next week). But what about altering the sweetening agent? Switch the simple syrup out for maraschino liqueur (and add just a bit of creme de violette), and you have an Aviation. The violette makes for a drink that's a bit of an odd color - it has a sort of greyish-blue tinge - but is still utterly delightful. Light, balanced, and delicately floral, it almost dances across the palate. There are all sorts of recipes for this cocktail across the internet, but these are the proportions I prefer.
The Aviation
makes 1 cocktail
2 oz gin
.75 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
.5 oz maraschino liqueur
.25 oz creme de violette
And lastly, my personal favorite: the Casino. The Casino is an Aviation, sans violette, and with the addition of orange bitters. Honestly, the word that popped into my mind to describe this drink when I first tasted it was "bouncy." The orange bitters bring out the cheerful side of the maraschino liqueur - it's like something you remember from childhood, but impossibly sophisticated.
The Casino
makes 1 cocktail
2 oz gin
.75 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
.5 oz maraschino liqueur
dash of orange bitters
Nancy Mitchell loves gin even more now. You can find more of her recipes on her blog, The Backyard Bartender.
(Images: Nancy Mitchell)
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The first two are basically just gin and lemonade, yes? A fave, a fave, a fave.
Too cold today. I want gin weather.
What does maraschino liqueur taste like? I am intrigued!
Do you have any favorite gins to use in these drinks??
I'm bookmarking this post. Love gin.
I don't usually love gin (although sipping the occasional gin and soda on a super-hot day is nice). The boyfriend loves gin & tonics though. So maybe these are some alternatives to try once it warms up.
A grey cocktail named "The Aviation" just reminds me of the gold- and grey-tinged cinematography of "The Aviator."
City_Chic - if you ever happen upon elderflower liqueur (e.g. St. Germain), try a splash of that in your G&T (keep the lime wedge in there). It's a simple, slightly floral variation.
EBarrett3 - it's cherry-flavored but the cherry pits (included in the process of making the liqueur) add an almond-ish flavor. I love a splash of it in a Manhattan, but can't wait to try it with gin!
Perfect timing. I just bought a bottle of Hendrick's as my birthday treat to myself, only to discover when I got home that I'm out of olives! I made a martini anyway, with a homemade green tomato pickle garnish, but I will definitely try one of the above as well. Er, maybe after dinner, though. There's only so many gin cocktails that can be had at a sitting.
The Aviation is forgotten? I can name a dozen bars off the top of my head near me that feature it on their cocktail list. Either way, I love it.
Is there a name for the Hendrick's/St. Germain combo? I just call it "what i'm drinking now." :P
Oh how i adore gin!! It's my only hard alcohol of choice. I used to order G&T's but wanted to cut back on the sugar so now I drink gin and sodas, sometimes with a splash of tonic. If you like lemony drinks, I would highly recommend a Tom Collins- a truly refreshing drink that is way too easy to consum. My recipe: Add ice to tumbler, then 1 part gin, 1/2 part lime juice, 1/2 simple syrup and top it off with soda water. The soda makes it fun! Oh and if you have the good maraschino cherries around, you could muddle it in the Tom Collins and it completely takes it up another notch.
Also for gin martinies, I think Henrick's is the best but (IMO) it doesn't taste good as a mixer- too floral. So tanq or bombay works well for mixed drinks for me while Henricks is good as a martini with a slice of cucumber. Thanks god it's Friday, will have to make one when I get home!
My preferred Gin is Bombay Saphire. Since I don't keep bitters on hand I make my version of the Fitzgerald with 1 oz lemon simple syrup instead of .75 regular simple syrup, leave out the bitters and garnish with candied lemon peel. Does not taste the same with anything but Saphire.
Make a hot Gin Sour - gin, lemon juice & hot simple syrup. Very warming!
rocked a Casino this evening with Peach Fee Brothers rather than Orange (because that's what Santa brought this year)...excellent stuff. Never knew we could bitters up a Gin Sour and land at a Fitzgerald so looking forward to trying that too. Cheers!