Gin and Sin

The Gin and Sin is a refreshingly tart and vibrant cocktail with roots in the Prohibition era. It masterfully combines the crisp, botanical notes of London Dry Gin with fresh lemon and orange juices for a citrus-forward profile. A dash of grenadine adds a subtle fruity sweetness and a lovely blush hue, creating a beautifully balanced and easy-drinking sour. It's an often-overlooked classic that deserves rediscovery.
Gin and Sin

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Gin and Sin is a classic cocktail, categorized as an "All Day" drink in historical cocktail books. It belongs to the sour family of drinks, balancing a spirit with citrus and a sweetener. Its refreshing nature makes it an excellent aperitif.

Serving

This drink is served straight up in a chilled coupe or cocktail glass. It's a moderately strong, cold cocktail with a classic presentation.
Serving size
Approximately 120-150 ml / 4-5 oz
Alcohol content
Around 18-22% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

The Gin and Sin cocktail first appeared in Harry Craddock's influential "The Savoy Cocktail Book" in 1930. Its name is a playful jab at the illicit nature of drinking during American Prohibition (1920-1933). Gin was a popular spirit in speakeasies, and pairing it with "sin" was a common theme, reflecting the fun and rebellion associated with clandestine drinking culture.
Origin
Believed to have originated during the Prohibition era in the United States or the United Kingdom in the 1920s. Its first widely known publication was in "The Savoy Cocktail Book" in 1930 in London.

Gin and Sin

The drink is primarily known as the Gin and Sin. Its name is straightforward, reflecting its base spirit and a playful nod to the era of its creation. It is sometimes written hyphenated as the Gin-and-Sin Cocktail.
Original name
Gin and Sin
Alternative name
Gin-and-Sin Cocktail

Characteristics overview

It has a bright, citrus-forward flavor and aroma, with a clean, smooth texture. The balance is primarily between sour and sweet, resulting in a refreshing, crisp cocktail with a pale pinkish hue.
Flavor
Tart, Citrusy, Botanical, Lightly Sweet
Aroma
Juniper, Orange, Lemon, Floral
Taste balance
Sour, Sweet
Aftertaste
Clean, Crisp, Lingering Citrus
Fizziness
Still
Color appearance
Pale Pink, Light Orange, Hazy
Texture
Smooth, Silky
Seasonality
Refreshing, All-season, Summery

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor is dominated by sourness from the citrus, with moderate fruitiness and alcohol strength. Sweetness is present but restrained, creating a bright and intense profile.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

You will need London Dry Gin as the base spirit, along with freshly squeezed lemon and orange juice. A small amount of grenadine provides color and sweetness.
  • London Dry Gin45 ml / 1.5 oz
    A classic juniper-forward gin works best to cut through the citrus.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    Must be freshly squeezed for best results.
  • Fresh Orange Juice22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    Freshly squeezed is highly recommended over bottled juice.
  • Grenadine5 ml / 1 barspoon
    Adds sweetness and a touch of color. A high-quality pomegranate-based grenadine is preferred.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

The necessary equipment includes a cocktail shaker with ice, a jigger for accurate measurements, and a strainer to pour the drink. A citrus juicer is essential for fresh juice.
  • Cocktail shaker for chilling and mixing
  • Jigger for measuring ingredients
  • Strainer (Hawthorne or fine mesh) for straining
  • Citrus juicer for fresh juice

Instructions

The method involves chilling a glass, shaking all ingredients with ice, and double-straining into the prepared glass. The final step is to garnish with an expressed orange twist.
1. Chill your coupe or cocktail glass by filling it with ice and water or placing it in the freezer.
2. Add gin, fresh lemon juice, fresh orange juice, and grenadine to a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill the shaker with cubed ice.
4. Shake vigorously for about 12-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled.
5. Discard the ice from your chilled glass.
6. Double-strain the contents of the shaker into the chilled glass to remove any ice shards or citrus pulp.
7. Express the oils from an orange twist over the surface of the drink and use it as a garnish.

Garnishing

The drink is typically garnished with an orange twist. Expressing the oils from the peel over the drink adds a wonderful aromatic dimension.
  • Orange twist, express the oils over the drink before placing it on the rim or in the glass.

Dietary Information

This cocktail is naturally caffeine-free, dairy-free, and egg-free. It is typically gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian, but it's wise to check the grenadine for non-vegan ingredients like cochineal.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

A single serving contains roughly 170 calories, with around 10 grams of carbohydrates and sugar, primarily from the fruit juices and grenadine.
Calories
Approximately 160-180 kcal / 670-750 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Approximately 9-11 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Approximately 8-10 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is perfect as a pre-dinner aperitif or for a lively cocktail party. Its refreshing citrus character also makes it an excellent choice for brunch or sunny afternoon gatherings.
  • Cocktail Party
  • Pre-dinner Drink
  • Summer Gatherings
  • Brunch

Pairing suggestions

The Gin and Sin's tart and refreshing profile pairs well with salty snacks, light appetizers, and seafood. Its citrus notes also make it a fine companion for brunch dishes.
  • Light appetizers
  • Salty snacks like olives or nuts
  • Seafood dishes like shrimp cocktail
  • Brunch foods like eggs benedict

Gin and Sin: A Taste of Playful Prohibition

The Gin and Sin is a delightful and historically significant cocktail from the Prohibition era. It's a simple yet elegant sour that balances the botanical complexity of gin with the bright, fresh flavors of orange and lemon juice. A touch of grenadine adds a hint of sweetness and a beautiful color, making it as visually appealing as it is delicious. As a forgotten classic, it offers a refreshing and accessible taste of cocktail history.

Similar Cocktails

Clover Club

Also a classic gin sour, but it uses raspberry syrup instead of orange juice and grenadine, and traditionally includes an egg white.

Satan's Whiskers

A more complex gin and orange juice classic that adds both sweet and dry vermouth, plus orange liqueur.

You May Also Like

Negroni Sbagliato

A sparkling and lighter version of the classic Negroni, where gin is replaced with prosecco for a refreshing, bubbly twist.

Jameson and Ginger

A simple, refreshing, and perfectly balanced highball that combines the smoothness of Jameson Irish Whiskey with the spicy sweetness of ginger ale.

Bloody Maria

A spicy and savory tequila-based twist on the classic Bloody Mary, perfect for brunch.

Bee's Knees

A simple yet elegant Prohibition-era classic combining gin, fresh lemon juice, and sweet honey.

Have You Tried These Yet?

Nightingale

A beautifully balanced and vibrant modern cocktail featuring gin, elderflower liqueur, Campari, and lemon juice.

Waterloo Cocktail

A sophisticated and aromatic gin cocktail that elegantly balances sweet and dry vermouths with a subtle hint of orange.

White Manhattan

A crisp, elegant, and spirit-forward variation of the classic Manhattan, made with rye whiskey, dry vermouth, and orange bitters.

Golden Star

An elegant and fruity classic cocktail featuring Calvados, sweet vermouth, and apricot brandy, brightened with a touch of orange juice.