Gin Cocktail

History

A close relation to the Martinez, and so by default also the Martini, this cocktail is adapted from one of the oldest known cocktail recipes. Some say this recipe dates back to 1824, coincidentally the same year Dr Siegert created Angostura Bitters. However, the first known recipe appears in Jerry Thomas' 1862 The Bartender's Guide.

111. Gin Cocktail
(use small bar glass)
3 or 4 dashes gum syrup.
2 do. bitters (Bogart's). [it's widely accepted that he meant Boker's Bitters]
1 wine-glass of gin.
1 or 2 dashes of Curaçao.
1 small piece lemon peel; fill one-third full of fine ice
shake well, and strain in a glass.

112. Fancy Gin Cocktail
(use small bar glass)
This drink is made the same as the gin cocktail, except that it is strained in a fancy wine-glass and a piece of lemon peel thrown on top, and the edge of the glass moistened with lemon.

Jerry Thomas, 1862

There are conflicting claims as to what constitutes a "Fancy" or "Improved" Gin Cocktail as opposed to a bog-standard "Gin Cocktail", some stating it's the style of glass used and others the inclusion of either lemon peel and or orange curaçao. Incidentally, some versions of this recipe suggest switching absinthe for curaçao. Rather than substituting, we recommend adding a couple of dashes of absinthe in addition to curaçao, or alternatively, absinthe rinsing the glass before mixing the drink.

Gin, sugar and bitters can make for a perfectly delicious cocktail without the addition of either curaçao or absinthe – a combination best known as a 'Gin Old Fashioned'.