Gin Daisy

The Gin Daisy is a delightful and historic cocktail that offers a crisp and invigorating experience. It is essentially a gin sour, brightened with fresh lemon juice and sweetened with simple syrup or an orange liqueur, then lengthened with a splash of sparkling soda water. Served over crushed ice, it’s a perfectly balanced drink that is both sophisticated and immensely drinkable, showcasing the versatility of gin in a classic format.
Gin Daisy

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Gin Daisy is a classic cocktail, categorized as a "sour" style drink. It's a historic recipe that represents a whole family of drinks popular before Prohibition, valued for its refreshing and balanced nature.

Serving

The Gin Daisy is a cold, moderately alcoholic drink typically served in a chilled rocks glass over crushed ice. Its serving size is relatively small, making for a crisp and refreshing experience.
Serving size
Approximately 120-150 ml / 4-5 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 18-22% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Rocks Glass
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

The Daisy is a category of cocktails that first appeared in the late 1800s, with the first published recipe appearing in Jerry Thomas's 1876 "Bar-Tender's Guide". While the Brandy Daisy is often considered the original, variations with gin, whiskey, and rum quickly became popular. The drink's name is thought to evoke the freshness and brightness of a daisy flower, perfectly reflecting its citrusy and refreshing character.
Origin
United States, late 19th century. The Daisy category of drinks was popular in America during the pre-Prohibition era as a refreshing and simple-to-make libation.

Gin Daisy

The Gin Daisy is primarily known by its original name. It belongs to the classic "Daisy" family of cocktails, which were popular in the late 19th century and included variations made with different spirits like brandy or whiskey.
Original name
Gin Daisy

Characteristics overview

This drink offers a refreshing and balanced profile, with bright citrus and botanical gin aromas. Its flavor is a classic sweet-and-sour interplay, finishing with a clean, crisp aftertaste and a light effervescence.
Flavor
Citrusy, botanical, slightly sweet, refreshing
Aroma
Juniper, lemon, floral
Taste balance
Balanced sweet and sour
Aftertaste
Clean, crisp, short
Fizziness
Lightly effervescent, gentle sparkle
Color appearance
Pale yellow, slightly cloudy, translucent
Texture
Light, crisp, watery
Seasonality
Refreshing, summery, bright

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor is dominated by a pleasant sourness from the lemon, balanced by moderate sweetness and fruitiness. Alcohol strength is noticeable but well-integrated, with a light carbonation to lift the drink.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

You will need gin as the base spirit, freshly squeezed lemon juice for sourness, and simple syrup for sweetness. A splash of soda water is added at the end for a light sparkle.
  • Gin60 ml / 2 oz
    A London Dry Gin works wonderfully.
  • Lemon Juice22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    Freshly squeezed is essential for the best flavor.
  • Simple Syrup15 ml / 0.5 oz
    Use a 1:1 sugar-to-water ratio. Can be substituted with orange liqueur for a different profile.
  • Soda Water30 ml / 1 oz (a splash)
    To top. Also known as club soda or seltzer.

Ice type

  • Crushed ice for serving, cubed ice for shaking.

Mixing equipments

The primary equipment needed is a cocktail shaker to combine and chill the ingredients. A jigger for accurate measurements and a strainer are also essential for a well-made drink.
  • Cocktail shaker for chilling and mixing ingredients.
  • Jigger for measuring ingredients accurately.
  • Strainer for pouring the cocktail without ice shards.

Instructions

The method is straightforward: shake gin, lemon juice, and syrup with ice, then strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. Finish the drink by topping it with soda water and adding a garnish.
1. Chill your rocks glass by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer for a few minutes.
2. Add gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill the shaker with cubed ice, seal it, and shake vigorously for about 12-15 seconds until well-chilled.
4. Fill the chilled rocks glass with fresh crushed ice.
5. Strain the mixture from the shaker into the prepared glass over the crushed ice.
6. Top with a splash of soda water.
7. Garnish with a lemon twist or wheel and serve immediately.

Garnishing

A simple lemon twist or wheel is the classic garnish, adding aromatic citrus oils. For a modern touch, a few fresh seasonal berries can be added for color and flavor.
  • Lemon twist or wheel, to express oils over the drink and place on the rim.
  • Fresh berries (like raspberry or strawberry), as an optional, colorful addition.

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 is typically gluten-free, assuming a pure distilled gin is used.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This cocktail has a moderate calorie count, primarily from the gin and sugar. Its carbohydrate and sugar content is relatively low compared to more fruit-heavy or liqueur-based drinks.
Calories
Averagely 170-190 kcal / 711-795 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 10-12 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 9-11 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is perfect for warm weather occasions like summer afternoons, garden parties, or as a refreshing choice for brunch. Its light and citrusy nature also makes it an excellent pre-dinner aperitif.
  • Summer afternoon
  • Brunch
  • Garden party
  • Pre-dinner drink

Pairing suggestions

The Gin Daisy's bright, acidic profile pairs wonderfully with light and fresh foods. It complements seafood, light appetizers, and salads, with its citrus notes cutting through richness and enhancing delicate flavors. It's also a great match for the tangy taste of goat cheese.
  • Light appetizers
  • Seafood, such as oysters or shrimp cocktail
  • Salads with vinaigrette dressing
  • Goat cheese

Gin Daisy: A Refreshing Taste of Cocktail History

The Gin Daisy is a timeless classic that showcases the simple beauty of a well-made sour. It's a refreshing blend of botanical gin, tart lemon, and just enough sweetness, all lifted by a delicate sparkle of soda water. Easy to make and incredibly satisfying, this drink is a perfect choice for a sunny afternoon or as a sophisticated aperitif. Its place in the historic "Daisy" family of cocktails makes it not just a drink, but a small taste of cocktail history.

Similar cocktails

Whiskey Daisy

Uses whiskey (Rye or Bourbon) as the base spirit.

Gin Fizz

Very similar, but typically served without crushed ice in a taller glass with more soda water. Often includes egg white.

Tom Collins

A built drink (not shaken) served in a Collins glass with more soda water, essentially a sparkling gin lemonade.

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