Skip to main content

Ramos Gin Fizz

Image may contain Cutlery Fork and Plant
Photo by Chelsea Kyle

This frothy and very yummy long drink was invented in 1888 by Henry C. Ramos, bartender at Meyer’s Restaurant in New Orleans. Because the cocktail requires a lot of shaking, the bar used to hire so-called “shaker boys,” who would just shake one cocktail after another in times of heavy business. The Ramos Gin Fizz is a full-blown classic nowadays and is ordered regularly all the time, but it was intended to be enjoyed as a pick-me-up or an eye-opener. Meaning—in the morning. Shocking, isn’t it, how our forefathers used to drink? The key ingredient is the orange blossom water; just those few drops give the cocktail its definitive character. Widely popularized before, during, and after Prohibition at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans, it has spawned countless variations—and it’s still enjoyed on porches across the South as the sun is setting.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 1 drink

Ingredients

1 ounce club soda
1 3/4 ounces Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength 100-proof gin
1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup (page 154)
5 drops orange blossom water
1 egg white
3/4 ounce heavy cream

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Fill a Collins glass with large cold ice cubes and add the club soda. Place the glass in the freezer. Combine the gin, juice, syrup, orange blossom water, egg white, and cream in a mixing glass. Add large cold ice cubes and shake vigorously for at least 2 minutes to make sure that the cocktail has sufficient texture and frothiness. Strain carefully into the prepared Collins glass.

  2. tasting notes

    Step 2

    Dominant Flavors: orange blossom and juniper

    Step 3

    Body: creamy, rich mouthfeel

    Step 4

    Dryness: medium to off-dry

    Step 5

    Complexity: medium to high

    Step 6

    Accentuating or Contrasting Flavors: floral notes and citrus mixed with sweet cream

    Step 7

    Finish: short, citrus followed by fragrant orange oils

  3. Step 8

    Glass: Collins

Cover of Speakeasy by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric featuring a coupe glass with a brown cocktail and lemon wheel garnish.
Reprinted with permission from Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide to Classic Cocktails Reimagined by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric, © 2010 Ten Speed Press. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.
Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
This vibrant cilantro pesto recipe blends blanched herbs, Cotija cheese, garlic, and toasted pepitas. Toss with pasta for a fresh and bold spaghetti pesto.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
Hawai‘i's beloved fried chicken is crispy, sweet, and savory.
Saucy, soy-honey salmon—cut into cubes to speed up the cooking process—makes a savory topping for a quick weeknight bowl.
In this lasagna, soft layers of pasta and béchamel are interspersed with a rich tomato sauce laden with hearty Mediterranean vegetables.