Eastside Cocktail

The Eastside is a beautifully balanced and invigorating modern classic that gained popularity in New York City. It is essentially a Southside cocktail (gin, lime, simple syrup, mint) with the crucial addition of muddled cucumber, which lends a cool, vegetal freshness. Served straight up in a coupe glass, it's an elegant and sophisticated drink that is particularly well-suited for warm weather sipping. The interplay of botanical gin, aromatic mint, and cool cucumber creates a uniquely refreshing experience.
Eastside Cocktail

Preparation

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Eastside is classified as a modern classic cocktail. It falls into the "sour" family of drinks due to its core components of spirit, citrus, and sweetener. Its refreshing and botanical nature makes it a popular gin-based cocktail.

Serving

The Eastside is a chilled cocktail served 'up' (without ice) in a pre-chilled coupe or martini glass. It has a moderate alcohol content, making it refreshing yet spirit-forward.
Serving size
Approximately 120-150 ml / 4-5 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 20-25% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

The Eastside cocktail was created in the early 2000s by bartender George Delgado. He crafted the drink at the now-closed Libation bar on Ludlow Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side, from which the cocktail gets its name. It was conceived as a riff on the classic Southside, adding cucumber to enhance its refreshing qualities, and it quickly became a favorite in the New York cocktail scene and beyond.
Origin
The Eastside Cocktail originated in New York City, USA, in the early 2000s. It was created by George Delgado at Libation bar on the Lower East Side.

Eastside Cocktail

The drink's name is often written as two words, "East Side Cocktail." It is considered a direct descendant of the Southside cocktail, distinguished by the addition of fresh cucumber. Some variations served tall with soda are referred to as an Eastside Rickey.
Original name
Eastside Cocktail
Alternative name
East Side Cocktail

Characteristics overview

This cocktail offers a fresh aroma of mint and cucumber, leading to a crisp flavor profile that perfectly balances tart lime with botanical gin. It has a smooth, light texture and a clean aftertaste, making it an exceptionally refreshing summer drink.
Flavor
Cucumber, minty, citrusy, botanical, fresh, crisp
Aroma
Mint, cucumber, lime, juniper
Taste balance
Sour, sweet
Aftertaste
Clean, refreshing, herbal, crisp
Fizziness
Still
Color appearance
Pale green, slightly cloudy, translucent
Texture
Smooth, light-bodied
Seasonality
Refreshing, summery

Flavor intensity & Experience

The Eastside has a pronounced flavor intensity, dominated by a refreshing sourness from the lime and a fresh fruitiness from the cucumber. The moderate sweetness and alcohol strength provide a well-rounded and balanced profile.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

To make an Eastside, you'll need a quality London Dry Gin as the base, complemented by fresh lime juice, simple syrup, fresh mint leaves, and slices of cucumber.
  • London Dry Gin60 ml / 2 oz
    A classic London Dry Gin with prominent juniper notes works best.
  • Fresh Lime Juice22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    Must be freshly squeezed for best results.
  • Simple Syrup22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    A 1:1 ratio of sugar to water. Adjust to taste.
  • Mint Leaves6-8 leaves
    Use fresh, vibrant mint leaves. Avoid bruised or old leaves.
  • Cucumber Slices3-4 thin slices
    English or Persian cucumbers are recommended for their thin skin and fewer seeds.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

You will need a cocktail shaker set, including a muddler to release the flavors from the mint and cucumber, and both a Hawthorne and fine-mesh strainer for a smooth final drink.
  • Cocktail shaker for chilling and combining ingredients.
  • Muddler for gently pressing the mint and cucumber.
  • Jigger for accurate measurement.
  • Hawthorne strainer to hold back ice.
  • Fine-mesh strainer to remove small herb and cucumber bits.

Instructions

The preparation involves gently muddling cucumber and mint, adding gin and citrus, shaking vigorously with ice, and then double-straining into a chilled coupe glass for a clean presentation.
1. Chill your coupe glass by filling it with ice and water, or by placing it in the freezer for a few minutes.
2. In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, add the mint leaves and cucumber slices.
3. Gently muddle the mint and cucumber to release their oils and juice. Do not over-muddle, as this can make the mint bitter.
4. Add the gin, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup to the shaker.
5. Fill the shaker with cubed ice, secure the lid, and shake vigorously for about 12-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is frosty.
6. Empty the ice from your chilled coupe glass.
7. Double-strain the contents of the shaker through a Hawthorne strainer and a fine-mesh strainer into the chilled glass.
8. Garnish with a thin cucumber ribbon or a fresh mint sprig and serve immediately.

Garnishing

Garnish the cocktail with either a thin ribbon of cucumber for visual appeal or a fresh sprig of mint to enhance the aroma as you sip.
  • Cucumber ribbon, placed elegantly inside the glass or on the rim.
  • Fresh mint sprig, gently clapped between your hands to release its aroma before placing on top.

Dietary Information

This cocktail is naturally free from common allergens such as dairy, eggs, nuts, and soy. It is suitable for both vegan and vegetarian diets, and it is also gluten-free, provided a standard distilled gin is used.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

A single serving of the Eastside contains approximately 180-220 calories. Most of its carbohydrate and sugar content comes from the simple syrup and lime juice.
Calories
Averagely 180-220 kcal / 750-920 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 10-12 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 9-11 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail's light and invigorating character makes it perfect for warm-weather occasions. It serves as an excellent aperitif to stimulate the palate before a meal, and is a popular choice for garden parties, brunches, and summer gatherings.
  • Summer party
  • Brunch
  • Aperitif
  • Garden party
  • Happy hour

Pairing suggestions

The Eastside's crisp and herbal profile pairs wonderfully with light and fresh foods. It excels alongside seafood appetizers like oysters and shrimp, cuts through the richness of goat cheese, and complements fresh summer salads. Its bright character makes it a versatile food-pairing cocktail.
  • Light appetizers
  • Seafood, such as oysters or shrimp cocktail
  • Fresh salads with vinaigrette
  • Goat cheese and crackers

The Eastside Cocktail: A Refreshing Taste of Modern New York

The Eastside Cocktail is a sophisticated and supremely refreshing modern classic born in New York City. As a bright and vegetal twist on the gin-based Southside, it combines botanical gin, tart lime, and aromatic mint with the cool essence of fresh cucumber. This creates a beautifully balanced sour that is both elegant in its simplicity and complex in flavor. Served chilled and straight up, it is the perfect cocktail for warm evenings, garden parties, or as a crisp start to an evening.

Similar Cocktails

Southside

The direct predecessor; made with gin, lime, simple syrup, and mint, but without the cucumber.

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