The Southside began at the 21 Club in New York City and was the house drink back when the club was at its peak. During the Prohibition, two cousins from Austria established their speakeasy, which would end up at 21 West Fifty-Second Street.
As with the wonderful world of mixology, there are other stories about the origin of the Southside, citing Chicago's gangs of the South Side and their attempt to disguise the low quality of their spirits, by mixing it with plenty of sugar and citrus.
Whatever the origin of this cocktail, we get to enjoy the legacy as we might a Mojito. Refreshingly and with a hint of mint.
This wonderful drink can be prepared straight or as a fizz. But here's the basic recipe. For this you'll need the following:
Ingredients
2 oz Dry gin
1 oz simple syrup
Juice of one half lemon
Sprig of mint
Splash of soda water (for the Fizz)
Into a mixing glass, place the gin, simple syrup and lemon juice.add all the mint, except for one leaf. Muddle the mint gently, but be careful not to tear the leaves. add a handful of cracked ice, and stir well, until the mixture is well chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with the remaining mint leaf, and serve.
If this recipe reminds you a little of a Mojito, you're not alone. After all, the refreshing tequila drink that we know so well does bear a slight resemblance to the south side.
Movie recommendation: I can think of two movies that might go with this libation: On The Waterfront (1954), with Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint, and Weekend at Bernie's (1989) with Andrew McCarthy. Whatever you watch, drink responsibly and enjoy this wonderful summer drink.
For more information on the Southside Cocktail, see http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2007/08/taking-a-walk-on-the-southside.html and http://www.cocktailmusings.com/2010/05/southside.html
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