Cocktail College - The Southside

Mar 06 2025 47 mins 19

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The Southside is a cocktail with a split personality — part speakeasy classic, part country club staple, and depending on who you ask, a drink with roots in gangsters or golf courses. It’s a simple mix of gin, citrus, mint, and sugar, but behind that refreshing exterior lies a surprisingly tangled history. Here to unpack it all is Ryan Garrison, head bartender at Brooklyn’s Bitter Monk, a lead bartender at New York’s Sugar Monk, and the distillery manager for Atheras Spirits. Listen on (or read below) to discover Ryan's Southside recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Ryan Garrison's Southside Recipe

Ingredients

- ½ ounce simple syrup

- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

- 2 ounces London Dry Gin, such as Ford's

- 5-6 mint leaves

- Garnish: attractive mint sprig or simple mint leaf

Directions

1. Slap chilled Nick & Nora glass with mint leaves then add to a cocktail shaker with the rest of the ingredients and ice.

2. Lightly shake until chilled then double strain into one side of the shaker.

3. Add a splash of soda water and pour into chilled, prepared Nick & Nora.

4. Garnish with mint sprig or single mint leaf.