Fizz (cocktail)

Fizz
Type Cocktail family
Alcohol common in this class of cocktail

A "fizz" is a mixed drink variation on the older sours family of cocktail. Its defining features are an acidic juice (such as lemon or lime) and carbonated water.

History

The first printed reference to "fiz" is in the 1887 edition of Jerry Thomas's Bartender's Guide, which contains six such recipes. The fizz became widely popular in America between 1900 and the 1940s. Known as a hometown specialty of New Orleans, the gin fizz was so popular that bars would employ teams of bartenders that would take turns shaking the drinks. Demand for fizzes went international at least as early as 1950, as evidenced by its inclusion in the French cookbook L'Art Culinaire Francais published that year.[1]

Gin fizz

Gin fizz
IBA Official Cocktail
Type Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume
Served Straight up; without ice
Standard drinkware
Highball glass
IBA specified ingredients*

A gin fizz is the best-known cocktail in the fizz family. A gin fizz contains gin, lemon juice, and sugar, which are shaken with ice, poured into a tumbler and topped with carbonated water.[2] The drink is similar to a Tom Collins, with a possible distinction being a Tom Collins historically used "Old Tom Gin" (a slightly sweeter precursor to London Dry Gin), whereas the kind of gin historically used in a gin fizz is unknown.[3]

Simple variations on the gin fizz are

Ramos gin fizz

Ramos fizz
IBA Official Cocktail
Ramos gin fizz at the Sazerac Bar, Roosevelt Hotel, New Orleans
Type Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume
Served Straight up; without ice
Standard drinkware
Collins glass
IBA specified ingredients*
  • 4.5 cl gin
  • 1.5 cl lime juice
  • 1.5 cl fresh lemon juice
  • 1.5 cl simple syrup
  • 6 cl cream
  • 1 egg white
  • 3 dashes orange flower water
  • 2 drops vanilla extract
  • Soda water
Notes All ingredients except the soda are poured in a mixing glass, dry shaken (no ice) for two minutes, then ice is added and shaken hard for another minute

Strained into a highball glass without ice and topped with soda

A Ramos gin fizz (also known as a "Ramos fizz" or "New Orleans fizz") contains gin, lemon juice, lime juice, egg white, sugar, cream, orange flower water, and soda water. It is served in a large non-tapered 12 to 14 ounce Collins glass.[4]

The orange flower water and egg significantly affect the flavor and texture of a Ramos, compared to a regular gin fizz. The key to making this egg cocktail is dissolving the sugar before adding ice; the sugar acts as an emulsifier, and it and the alcohol "cook" the egg white.[5]

Henry C. Ramos invented the Ramos gin fizz in 1888 at his bar, the Imperial Cabinet Saloon on Gravier Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. It was originally called a "New Orleans fizz", and is one of the city's most famous cocktails. Before Prohibition, the drink's popularity and exceptionally long 12-minute mixing time[6] had over 20 bartenders working at the Imperial at once making nothing but the Ramos gin fizz - and still struggling to keep up with demand. During the carnival of 1915, 32 staff members were on at once, just to shake the drink.

The Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans also popularized the drink, abetted by Governor Huey Long's fondness for it. In July 1935, Long brought a bartender named Sam Guarino from the Roosevelt Hotel to the New Yorker Hotel in New York City to teach its staff how to make the drink so he could have it whenever he was there. The Museum of the American Cocktail has newsreel footage of this event. The Roosevelt Hotel group trademarked the drink name in 1935 and still makes it today.

Sloe Gin Fizz

Sloe gin fizz
Type Cocktail
Served On the rocks; poured over ice
Standard garnish

lemon slice, maraschino cherry

Standard drinkware
Highball glass
Commonly used ingredients

A traditional sloe gin fizz contains sloe gin (a blackthorn plum flavored spirit), lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white, and carbonated water. A popular alternative eliminates the egg white.[7]

Uncommon variations

In popular culture

See also

References

Notes

  1. How's Your Drink? by Eric Felten published by Surrey Books November 29, 2007
  2. Gin Fizz
  3. Sinclair, George (March 26, 2007). "The Great Tom Collins Hoax". Scribd. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  4. "Ramos Gin Fizz", New Orleans Online. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  5. Creative Cleveland bartenders are the chefs of the cocktail scene
  6. New Orleans' best cocktails: The Ramos Gin Fizz - YouTube
  7. Sloe Gin Fizz Recipe - Esquire - How to Make the Perfect Sloe Gin Fizz

External links

The Wikibook Bartending has a page on the topic of: Gin Fizz
The Wikibook Bartending has a page on the topic of: Ramos Gin Fizz
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