Fizz (cocktail) facts for kids
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| Type | Cocktail family |
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A fizz is a type of mixed drink. It's like a bubbly version of an older drink called a "sour." The main things that make a fizz special are a sour juice, like lemon or lime, and carbonated water (which is water with bubbles, like soda water).
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History of Fizz Drinks
The first time the word "fizz" was printed for these drinks was in 1876. It was in a book called Bartender's Guide by Jerry Thomas. This book had four recipes for fizz drinks.
Fizz drinks became very popular in America between 1900 and the 1940s. The gin fizz, a type of fizz, was especially famous in New Orleans. It was so popular that some bars had many bartenders working at once, just to shake these drinks! By 1950, fizz drinks were known around the world. They were even included in a French cookbook called L'Art Culinaire Francais.
The Gin Fizz: A Famous Type
| IBA official cocktail | |
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| Type | Cocktail |
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| Served | Straight up; without ice |
| Standard garnish | lemon slice |
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| IBA specified ingredients  |
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| Preparation | Shake all ingredients with ice cubes, except soda water. Pour into glass. Top with soda water. |
| Gin Fizz recipe at International Bartenders Association |
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The gin fizz is the most well-known drink in the fizz family. It is made with gin, lemon juice, and sugar. These ingredients are shaken with ice and then topped with bubbly carbonated water.
The gin fizz is similar to another drink called a Tom Collins. One difference might be the type of gin used. A Tom Collins traditionally used "Old Tom Gin," which was a bit sweeter. The exact type of gin used in early gin fizzes is not as clear.
Variations of the Gin Fizz
There are a few simple changes that create different types of gin fizzes:
- Silver fizz – This version adds egg white.
- Golden fizz – This one adds egg yolk.
- Royal fizz – This fizz includes a whole egg (both white and yolk).
- Diamond fizz – Instead of carbonated water, this uses sparkling wine. It is more commonly known as a "French 75".
- Green fizz – A small amount of green crème de menthe is added to this fizz.
The Ramos Gin Fizz: A New Orleans Classic
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Ramos Gin Fizz at a bar in New Orleans
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| Type | Cocktail |
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| Served | Straight up; without ice |
| Standard drinkware |
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| IBA specified ingredients |
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| Preparation | All ingredients except the soda are poured in a mixing glass, dry shaken (no ice) for two minutes, then ice is added and shaken hard for another minute. Strain into a highball glass without ice and topped with soda. |
The Ramos gin fizz is also called a "Ramos fizz" or "New Orleans fizz." It contains gin, lemon juice, lime juice, egg white, sugar, cream, orange flower water, and carbonated water. It is usually served in a tall glass called a Collins glass.
The orange flower water and egg make the Ramos gin fizz taste and feel different from a regular gin fizz. A key step in making this drink is to dissolve the sugar before adding ice. This helps the egg white mix in properly.
Henry C. Ramos created the Ramos gin fizz in 1888. He invented it at his bar, the Imperial Cabinet Saloon, in New Orleans. It was first known as a "New Orleans fizz" and became one of the city's most famous drinks. Before a time called Prohibition (when certain drinks were not allowed), this drink was so popular that over 20 bartenders at the Imperial worked only on making the Ramos gin fizz. Even with so many people, they sometimes struggled to keep up with how many people wanted the drink! During a big festival in 1915, 32 staff members were shaking this drink at the same time.
The Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans also helped make the drink famous. This was partly because Governor Huey Long really liked it. In 1935, Governor Long even brought a bartender from the Roosevelt Hotel to New York City. The bartender taught the staff at another hotel how to make the drink so the Governor could have it whenever he visited. The Roosevelt Hotel group officially protected the drink's name in 1935 and still makes it today.
Sloe Gin Fizz: The Purple Fizz
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| Type | Cocktail |
| Served | On the rocks; poured over ice |
| Standard garnish | grapefruit slice, maraschino cherry |
| Standard drinkware |
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| Commonly used ingredients |
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| Preparation | Shake all ingredients with ice cubes, except soda water. Pour into glass. Top with soda water. |
A traditional sloe gin fizz is made with sloe gin, which is a spirit flavored with blackthorn plums. It also includes grapefruit juice, simple syrup, egg white, and carbonated water. Sometimes, the egg white is left out. While the original recipe uses grapefruit juice, some versions use lemon juice instead.
Other Types of Fizz Drinks
There are many other kinds of fizz drinks, some using gin and some using other ingredients.
Less Common Gin Fizzes
- Japanese gin fizz – This is a standard gin fizz with a shot of lychee liqueur added.
- Meyer lemon fizz – This uses the sweeter Meyer lemon instead of a regular lemon, and also adds orange juice.
- Sour melon fizz – This drink includes gin, lime juice, midori (a melon-flavored liqueur), and ginger ale.
- Strawberry gin fizz – This can be made with gin, St. Germain liqueur, strawberries, club soda, and mint. Another version uses gin, lime juice, sparkling water, and mint sprigs.
Fizzes Without Gin
- Buck's fizz (and its similar drink, the mimosa) – These use champagne and orange juice, sometimes with grenadine.
- Chicago fizz – This fizz is made with rum, port wine, lemon juice, sugar, and egg white.
- Manhattan cooler – This drink contains whisky (Scotch), lemon juice, sugar, and lemon-lime soda.
- Pink Fizz (also known as May Blossom Fizz) – This uses Swedish punsch, lemon juice, grenadine, and soda water.
- Morning Glory fizz – This includes whisky (Scotch), absinthe, lemon juice, one egg white, sugar, and soda water.
- Whiskey fizz – This is made with whiskey (American blend), lemon juice, sugar, and lemon-lime soda.
- Mojito – While not always called a fizz, it shares similar features with white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water, and mint.
Images for kids
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A fizz drink
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A gin fizz
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A Ramos Gin Fizz
See also
In Spanish: Cóctel tipo Fizz para niños
