Shake the citrus base, strain, top with Champagne, and stir gently
French 75
Cold gin, bright lemon, and a long lift of fine Champagne bubbles.
Shake the sour, fine-strain without ice, then add soda
Gin Fizz
A classic shaken highball served without ice, balancing a brisk citrus base with fresh carbonation.
Edited by CocktailSteps Editorial Team
- Time
- 5 minutes
- Level
- Intermediate
- Glass
- Highball
- Approx. ABV
- 13% · Medium-low
- Tradition
- American
- Profile
- Sour · Citrus
Ingredient totals
Ingredients
Amounts below make one drink. The method, Quick Check, and guided Make use these one-glass amounts.
1.5 ozGinRecommended brandBeefeater London Dry Gin
1 ozFresh lemon juiceRecommended brandSunkist Lemon
0.33 ozSimple syrupRecipe specification1:1 white sugar to water, by weight
Stir 100 g white sugar with 100 g warm water until no crystals remain, then cool before measuring into the drink. Use a scale: equal cups of sugar and water give a different concentration. A richer 2:1 syrup or a concentrated bottled cane syrup needs a smaller measure, not an equal-volume swap; check the bottle’s specification.
1 splashSoda waterRecommended brandFever-Tree Premium Club Soda
1 sliceLemon sliceOptionalRecommended brandSunkist Lemon
Measured method · one drink
How to make Gin Fizz
These steps make one glass. For more drinks, use the ingredient totals above to set up, then repeat this method for each serving.
- 01
Measure the sour
1½ oz gin · 1 oz lemon · ⅓ oz syrup
Add 1½ oz gin, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and ⅓ oz simple syrup to an ice-filled shaker.
Measure the sour visual check - 02
Shake hard
Shake · 12 sec
Seal the shaker and shake hard for 12 seconds until frosty.
Shake hard visual check - 03
Strain without ice
Fine strain · no serving ice
Fine-strain the chilled citrus base into an empty highball, leaving every piece of ice behind.
Strain without ice visual check - 04
Top with soda
1 splash soda water
Add 1 lively splash of soda water, stopping before the foam reaches the rim.
Top with soda visual check - 05
Add the lemon
1 lemon slice
Set 1 thin lemon slice on the rim without knocking down the fizz.
Add the lemon visual check
Seal the shaker and shake hard for 12 seconds until frosty.
AI-assisted illustration of one step. Follow the measured method above; sound is optional.Key move
Keep the serving glass ice-free and preserve the fresh fizz
Technique note
Why this build works
This Fizz is a shaken gin sour finished with a splash of soda and served without ice. That separates its method from the built, ice-filled Collins. A full ounce of lemon against only ⅓ ounce of 1:1 simple syrup makes a brisk sour base, so lemon acidity is noticeable. Shaking supplies the chill and dilution before carbonation is added; the empty serving glass should already be cold.
Common failure points
- The Fizz warms quickly and loses its lift.
- Chill the serving glass, use cold soda, and serve as soon as it is built. There is no serving ice to correct a warm glass or base.
- The lemon is too aggressive for the chosen gin.
- Check the 1-ounce lemon measure and 1:1 syrup concentration. Taste the shaken base; if needed, add syrup in small measured increments instead of trying to hide excess acid under a large soda top.
Measure or substitute
London dry gin works at 1½ ounces. Old Tom gin can bring more sweetness, so taste before adjusting syrup. This version has no egg white; adding one changes both texture and preparation. Record your preferred soda splash for repeatable servings.
Recipe references
These references describe the drink or its ingredients. Our measured build and teaching notes are CocktailSteps adaptations; proportions and methods may differ from the reference.
Set the station
Tools
JiggerRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom Japanese Style Jigger
Cocktail shakerRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom KORIKO Shaking Tins
Fine strainerRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom COCO Mesh Cone
Highball glassRecommended brandRIEDEL Drink Specific Highball
Choose your bottle
Bottle buying guide
Best fit is our default. Spend less with Smart buy, or choose Upgrade when you want more character.
Gin
Know the pour
Medium-low
Gin is stretched by citrus, shake dilution, and soda water.
Contains alcohol. Serve only to adults of legal drinking age and enjoy responsibly.
