The Gin Fizz is a theatrical New Orleans legacy. Watch this elaborate cocktail-making dance when ordering at a bar, or indulge in a mild arm toner and shake it yourself. Let it be known, this tall foamy glass loves a little workout.
The light lemony fizz was first crafted in 1888 by bar owner Henry Ramos. The original is said to have been shaken for longer than 10 minutes to create its distinct fluffy layer of froth, sometimes passing through the hands of multiple bartenders (then aptly named ‘shaker boys').
First shaken in New Orleans at the iconic Imperial Cabinet Saloon, the rapid popularity of the Gin Fizz soon made it the beverage of choice for the city’s Mardi Gras celebrations. Demand for the cocktail through festivities became so high that shakers would spill from bars into the streets to keep up with the crowds.
To great relief, the cocktail has since been simplified. Now shaken without a stopwatch, more intricate ingredients like orange blossom, vanilla extract, cream and multiple citrus juices are rarely used. The modern Gin Fizz, still keeping all its refreshing foamy qualities, is a simpler lemon, egg white and soda-based rendition.
When it’s your turn to shake it, there’s no need to sweat – a five-second cocktail dance is all it takes. Unless you fancy the workout.
