The Story Behind The Southside
Falling somewhere between a Gimlet and a Mojito, the Southside is a quaffable and refreshing cocktail combining the herbaceousness of gin with mouthwatering limes and the cooling quality of freshly plucked mint.
There are many rumors surrounding this cocktail — that it was the favorite drink of infamous gangster Al Capone, who ruled Chicago’s South Side and mixed it up with his signature bathtub gin; that it actually hailed from Long Island’s Southside Sportsmen’s Club; or that it was popularized at historic New York speakeasy 21 Club.
Some even debate if it’s lemons or limes that should be squeezed into the drink; limes are used below to harken back to a more tropical feel. For a Tom Collins variation, try a Southside Fizz by topping the drink off with soda water.
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