A true classic, and one that tests the mettle of some bartenders purely in its simplicity. Because the balance between the alcohol, sweetness and sourness will vary depending on the gin you’re using and the sweetness of the lemons you have at hand, these proportions should be treated as a guide. Taste as you go, and adjust with more lemon juice or sugar as your palate dictates. A splash of bitters, though not part of the classic recipe, doesn’t go astray on a warm evening. Pictured with Oysters Rockefeller and Tequila Old Fashioned.
Ingredients
Method
Main
1.Pour gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup into a tall glass and stir to combine. Add ice cubes, a splash of bitters, if using, and soda to fill, garnish with lemon slices and, if you like, a cherry. Serve and drink – in the words of 19th-century bartending legend Jerry Thomas – while it is lively.
