Justin’s Cocktails

Gin

Ramos Gin Fizz

Spirit-Based · 1 serving · Serve: Collins glass

gineggwhitecreamcitrusfizzclassic

StrengthGentle Boozy
TasteSweet Dry / Sour

The Ramos Gin Fizz is a legendary New Orleans cocktail created in the 1880s by Henry C. Ramos. This ethereal and strangely light cocktail combines gin and citrus with cream and soda, plus an elusive touch of orange blossom water. What makes this drink truly special is its silky, frothy texture achieved through extensive shaking—originally, Ramos called for an incredible 12 minutes of shaking, with New Orleans bars of the time enlisting teams of "shaker boys" who would pass each shaker down the line. Today, it's something of a joke in bartending circles: If you want to annoy a bartender, order a Ramos Gin Fizz, especially if they're working a crowd three-deep.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz London dry gin
  • 1 Medium egg white
  • 0.75 oz Simple syrup
  • 0.5 oz Fresh lime juice
  • 0.5 oz Fresh lemon juice
  • 0.5 oz Half-and-half
  • 3 dashes Orange blossom water (also called orange flower water)
  • 2 oz Club soda (to top)
  • Garnish: Orange wedge

Directions

  1. Crack open an egg and separate the white. Take a close look and a good whiff to ensure freshness before adding to your cocktail shaker.
  2. Add gin, egg white, simple syrup, lime juice, lemon juice, half-and-half, and orange blossom water to the shaker WITHOUT ice.
  3. Seal your shaker and give a vigorous dry shake for at least one minute. You'll feel pressure start to build.
  4. Unseal the shaker, add ice, reseal, and shake again vigorously for at least another minute (the longer the better).
  5. Strain into a Collins glass with no ice.
  6. Top with 2 ounces of club soda.
  7. Add any excess foam from the cocktail shaker on top.
  8. Garnish with an orange wedge.
  9. Serve immediately with a straw.

Simple Syrup

  1. Combine equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan.
  2. Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved.
  3. Allow to cool before using.
  4. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Notes/Tips

When working with raw eggs, always use common sense; if the egg looks or smells off, grab a new egg.

The extensive shaking is crucial to achieving the signature texture of this cocktail. Don't skimp on the shaking time—it's what transforms a drink with cream and egg into a frothy, light concoction. If your arms get tired, hand it off to a friend.

For an authentic experience, some bartenders will add the club soda to the empty glass first, then slowly pour the cocktail over it to create a dramatic foam cap that rises above the rim of the glass.

Goes well with

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