Ramos Gin Fizz

Name: Ramos Gin Fizz
Prep time: 12 min
Total time: 12 min
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients: 60 ml / 2 oz London Dry Gin; 15 ml / 0.5 oz Lemon Juice; 15 ml / 0.5 oz Lime Juice; 30 ml / 1 oz Simple Syrup; 1 large egg white Egg White; 30 ml / 1 oz Heavy Cream; 3 dashes Orange Flower Water; 30 ml / 1 oz, to top Soda Water

Ingredients Instructions

The Ramos Gin Fizz is a legendary New Orleans classic, celebrated for its unique, meringue-like foam head that rises above the rim of the glass. It combines gin with citrus, cream, egg white, and orange flower water, all shaken vigorously to create a velvety, cloud-like texture. The result is a light, fragrant, and refreshingly complex drink that is both a cocktail and a culinary experience. It is considered a true test of a bartender's skill and endurance.

Preparation

Preparation time: 12 minutes

Preparation time

Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Ramos Gin Fizz is a classic sour-style cocktail belonging to the "fizz" family. Fizzes are characterized by the inclusion of a spirit, citrus, and carbonated water. Its classic status is cemented by its long history and revered place in the cocktail canon.

Serving

Served cold in a chilled Highball or Collins glass, this drink is renowned for its tall, foamy head that rises above the rim. It's a moderately strong cocktail despite its complex preparation.

Serving size

Approximately 180-210 ml / 6-7 oz

Alcohol content

Approximately 12-15% ABV

Alcohol strength

Serving temperature

Cold

Glass type

Highball

Glass treatment

Chilled

Backstory

Created in 1888 by Henry C. Ramos at his Imperial Cabinet Saloon in New Orleans, the drink's popularity was immense. Legend states that Ramos employed a line of "shaker boys" who would pass the shaker down the line to achieve the required 12-minute shake. Governor Huey P. Long of Louisiana was so fond of it that he brought a bartender to New York to teach the staff at the New Yorker Hotel how to properly make his favorite drink.

Origin

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 1888.

Ramos Gin Fizz

The drink is primarily known as the Ramos Gin Fizz, named after its creator, Henry C. Ramos. It is sometimes shortened to Ramos Fizz or referred to as the New Orleans Fizz, highlighting its city of origin.

Original name

Ramos Gin Fizz

Alternative names

New Orleans Fizz
Ramos Fizz

Characteristics overview

The Ramos Gin Fizz has a complex profile with citrus and floral aromas, leading to a creamy, velvety texture and a balanced sweet-and-sour taste. Its most striking feature is its appearance: a milky white liquid crowned with a thick, stable foam.

Flavor

Creamy, citrusy, floral, sweet, gin-forward, velvety

Aroma

Orange blossom, lemon, lime, botanical, clean

Taste balance

Balanced, sweet, sour

Aftertaste

Clean, creamy, floral, short

Fizziness

Lightly effervescent, foamy

Color appearance

Opaque, milky white, tall foamy head

Texture

Frothy, airy, velvety, smooth, creamy, cloud-like

Seasonality

Refreshing, summery, suitable year-round

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor is a delicate balance of moderate sweetness and sourness, with high creaminess and citrus fruitiness. It has a relatively low alcohol strength and light carbonation, making it a very smooth and approachable drink.

Sweetness

Saltiness

Sourness

Bitterness

Spiciness

Fruitiness

Creaminess

Carbonation

Ingredients

The recipe requires London Dry Gin, fresh lemon and lime juice, simple syrup, heavy cream, an egg white, and a few dashes of orange flower water. Chilled soda water is used to finish the drink and raise its iconic head.

London Dry Gin60 ml / 2 oz
A classic, botanical-forward gin works best.
Lemon Juice15 ml / 0.5 oz
Freshly squeezed is essential for brightness.
Lime Juice15 ml / 0.5 oz
Freshly squeezed is essential for brightness.
Simple Syrup30 ml / 1 oz
1:1 ratio of sugar to water.
Egg White1 large egg white
Use a fresh, high-quality egg for the best foam. Pasteurized egg whites can be substituted.
Heavy Cream30 ml / 1 oz
Provides the signature rich texture.
Orange Flower Water3 dashes
A crucial ingredient for the authentic floral aroma; use sparingly as it is potent.
Soda Water30 ml / 1 oz, to top
Must be very cold to help lift the foam.

Ice type

Cubed

Mixing equipments

A cocktail shaker is essential for the extensive shaking required to achieve the signature foam. A jigger for measuring and a double-straining method complete the necessary equipment.

Cocktail shaker for vigorously shaking the ingredients
Jigger or measuring tool for accurate measurements
Strainer (Hawthorne and fine mesh) for a smooth pour

Instructions

The process involves a two-step shake: a 'dry shake' without ice to emulsify, followed by a long, hard 'wet shake' with ice to chill and aerate. The final touch is a slow pour of soda water to raise the signature foam head above the glass.

1. Chill a Highball or Collins glass by filling it with ice and water, then set aside.

2. Combine gin, lemon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, heavy cream, egg white, and orange flower water in a cocktail shaker.

3. Perform a 'dry shake' (shaking without ice) vigorously for at least 1 minute to emulsify the ingredients and begin building the foam.

4. Add 3-4 medium-sized ice cubes to the shaker and perform a 'wet shake'. Shake as hard and as long as you can, for at least 2-3 minutes, until the shaker is very frosty.

5. Discard the ice and water from your chilled glass.

6. Double-strain the cocktail into the chilled glass, leaving about an inch (2.5 cm) of space at the top.

7. Let the drink sit for a minute to allow the foam to set and separate from the liquid.

8. Very slowly, pour a small amount of chilled soda water directly into the center of the drink. This will cause the foam head to rise gracefully above the rim of the glass.

9. Serve immediately and enjoy the unique texture.

Garnishing

The Ramos Gin Fizz is traditionally served without a garnish. Its impressive, stable foam head is the star of the show, and no further adornment is necessary.

None, as the foam head is the main presentation

Dietary Information

This cocktail contains both dairy (cream) and egg, making it unsuitable for vegans or those with related allergies. It is naturally caffeine-free, soy-free, nut-free, and gluten-free, assuming a gluten-free gin is used.

✓ Contains alcohol

✓ Caffeine-free

✕ Dairy-free

✕ Egg-free

✓ Soy-free

✓ Nut-free

✓ Gluten-free

✕ Vegan-friendly

✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This is a moderately caloric cocktail, primarily due to the sugar in the simple syrup and fat in the heavy cream. It has a significant carbohydrate and sugar content per serving.

Calories

Approximately 280-320 kcal / 1170-1340 kJ

Calories level

Carbohydrates

Approximately 25-30 g

Carbohydrate level

Sugar

Approximately 24-28 g

Sugar level

Occasions

This elegant cocktail is a perfect centerpiece for a special brunch, where its light and airy texture shines. It's also an excellent choice for a sophisticated cocktail party or any occasion that calls for a unique and impressive drink.

Brunch
Cocktail party
Special occasion
Summer gathering

Pairing suggestions

The Ramos Gin Fizz pairs beautifully with classic New Orleans brunch fare, such as Eggs Benedict or beignets. Its light and floral character also complements the brininess of oysters and other delicate seafood. For a simpler pairing, salty snacks provide a pleasant contrast to the drink's sweetness.

Light brunch foods like Eggs Benedict
Oysters or other light seafood
Beignets or other New Orleans pastries
Salty snacks like spiced nuts

The Legendary Ramos Gin Fizz: A Cloud in a Glass

The Ramos Gin Fizz is more than a drink; it's a piece of cocktail history from New Orleans. Its preparation is a labor of love, requiring a lengthy, vigorous shake to create its iconic, thick, meringue-like foam that famously rises above the glass. The taste is a delicate balance of botanicals from the gin, bright citrus, floral notes of orange blossom, and a rich, creamy texture unmatched by other cocktails. It is an elegant, refreshing, and truly unforgettable drinking experience.