The Southside: Speakeasy Mint & Citrus with a Mysterious Past
Some cocktails are defined by their ingredients. Others are defined by their stories.
The Southside is both.
Bright with citrus, cooling with fresh mint, and built on a backbone of gin, the Southside is one of those drinks that feels timeless the moment it hits your glass. But behind its crisp, refreshing profile lies a debate that’s as spirited as the cocktail itself.
Was it born in the refined country clubs of New York…or in the smoky, underground bars of Prohibition-era Chicago?
Let’s dig in.
Two Origins, One Legendary Cocktail
Like many classic cocktails, the true origin of the Southside is a little… muddled.
The Chicago Story (Our Favorite)
One theory places the drink squarely in Prohibition-era Chicago, tied to the South Side—an area often associated with Al Capone and his network.
The story goes that the gin available in those neighborhoods was, let’s say… less than refined. To make it drinkable, bartenders added mint and citrus to soften the harsh edges.
The result?
A dangerously smooth cocktail that masked rough spirits and kept patrons coming back for more.
The New York Story
Another version credits the drink to the Southside Sportsmen’s Club on Long Island—an elite, pre-Prohibition gathering place for wealthy members.
Here, the Southside was less about disguising bad booze and more about crafting something elegant and refreshing. Think polished bars, not hidden speakeasies.
Why the Southside Still Works Today
Regardless of where it started, the Southside has endured for one simple reason: Balance.
- The gin brings structure and botanical depth
- The lemon juice adds brightness and acidity
- The mint delivers a cooling freshness
- A touch of sweetness rounds it all out
It’s clean, it’s vibrant, and it’s incredibly drinkable—especially as the seasons start to shift toward spring.
For craft distillers, it’s also a cocktail that lets the base spirit shine. A well-made gin doesn’t need to be hidden—it just needs the right supporting cast.
The Eight Oaks Take
At Eight Oaks, we’re always thinking about how ingredients interact—from the grain in the field to the glass in your hand.
The Southside is a perfect example of that philosophy in action:
- Fresh ingredients matter
- Balance matters
- And the base spirit matters most
Using a well-crafted gin transforms this cocktail from something that once masked imperfections into something that celebrates them done right.
Southside Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients:
2 oz Eight Oaks Gin
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
¾ oz simple syrup
6–8 fresh mint leaves
Instructions:
- Add mint leaves and simple syrup to a shaker
- Gently muddle to release the mint oils (don’t overdo it)
- Add gin and fresh lemon juice
- Fill with ice and shake well
- Double strain into a chilled coupe glass
- Garnish with a fresh mint sprig
A Cocktail that Bridges Eras
Whether it was born in a high-end club or a hidden speakeasy, the Southside represents something bigger than its ingredients.
It’s a reminder that great cocktails evolve. What once covered flaws can become something refined. What started as a necessity can become a tradition.
And sometimes, the best drinks are the ones that carry a little mystery with every sip.
