Classic Gin Fizz Cocktail

Written by
Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham is a cocktail expert, professional bartender, and cookbook author with over 10 years of experience in the food-writing world.
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Colleen Graham
Updated 06/26/19
Gin Fizz Cocktail Recipe

The Spruce
  • Total: 3 mins
  • Prep: 3 mins
  • Cook: 0 mins
  • Yield: 1 cocktail (1 serving)
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
272 Calories
1g Fat
24g Carbs
9g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1 cocktail (1 serving)
Amount per serving
Calories 272
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 62mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Protein 9g
Calcium 48mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The gin fizz is a classic mixed drink that is much like a whiskey fizz, the main difference is found in the base spirit used. These two drinks are not alone as a number have taken the "fizz" name over the years. All are very refreshing, easy to mix up, and can take on a different personality depending on the customizations you make.

The gin fizz has a very light, sour citrus flavor that allows the gin to shine. Because of this, using a good, quality gin is recommended. It doesn't have to be the best gin in the house, though it's important to be aware that there is very little in the drink to mask a cheap gin's undesirable notes.

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Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Gin Fizz Cocktail Recipe
     The Spruce

  2. Pour the gin, juice, sugar, syrup, and egg white into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

    Gin Fizz Cocktail Recipe
     The Spruce

  3. Shake vigorously. More than usual if using the egg white to ensure it is mixed thoroughly with the other ingredients.

    Gin Fizz Cocktail Recipe
     The Spruce

  4. Strain into a chilled highball glass with ice cubes.

    Gin Fizz Cocktail Recipe
     The Spruce

  5. Top off with soda water.

    Gin Fizz Cocktail Recipe
     The Spruce

  6. Garnish with a cherry.

    Gin Fizz Cocktail Recipe
     The Spruce

  7. Serve and enjoy!

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs poses a risk of food-borne illness.

Tips

  • The choice between lemon and lime juice is a personal one. Lime with the really dry gins (e.g., London dry gin) and lemon with those that have a lighter juniper profile seem to pair well together.
  • An egg is often used in a gin fizz and some variations switch up the portion of the egg used. Though it is optional, an egg white gin fizz (sometimes called a silver fizz) is just a little bit more interesting than one made without it (which makes the drink, essentially, a gin rickey) because it gives the drink a luscious foam top. Try this one with an egg and see what you think.

Recipe Variations

There are many variations on the gin fizz that you might want to try as well. Quite often, it's as simple as changing a single ingredient.

  • The royal fizz uses an entire egg rather than the white alone. This will give your drink a foamy top as well as a slightly eggier flavor.
  • In the golden fizz, you'll switch from an egg white to an egg yolk. You'll lose the foam but have a drink with a little more egg flavor.
  • To make a diamond fizz, use sparkling wine instead of soda in the original gin fizz recipe.
  • If you add a dash of crème de menthe to the gin fizz, you'll have a green fizz.
  • Instead of the juice and simple syrup, you can use a fresh sour mix.

How Strong Is a Gin Fizz?

Like most tall mixed drinks, the gin fizz is going to be a relatively light cocktail. When made with an 80-proof gin, its alcohol content should be in the 13 percent ABV (26 proof) range, making it the equivalent to drinking a glass of wine.