Rosemary Gin Fizz

Craving a gin and lemon cocktail with a twist? This Rosemary Gin Fizz is an earthy, effervescent symphony! The rosemary simple syrup adds a touch of sweetness that works beautifully with the botanical notes of the gin, while a squeeze of lemon brightens the flavor. This gin fizz recipe is a complex yet balanced drink that’s perfect for adventurous gin lovers.

What is a Fizz?

The fizz family of cocktails is a simple variation on sours and typically feature a citrus juice (for the sour!) and carbonated water (for the fizz) in addition to the spirit (typically gin, rum, or whiskey).

Fizzes have been around for quite a while, so it’s likely that you’ve at least heard of them, if not enjoyed one. Jerry Thomas’ Bartender’s Guide contained the first printed reference to a “fiz” all the way back in 1876.

Between 1900 and 1940, fizzes were becoming increasingly popular, so much so that the Gin Fizz became known as the hometown specialty in New Orleans.

By the 1950s, the popularity of fizzes had extended their reach outside of the United States, with an inclusion in L’Art Culinaire Francais, a French cookbook published in 1950.

Besides a Gin Fizz, Mimosas and mojitos are other examples of cocktails that fall in the fizz category.

Gin Fizz Cocktail

A Gin Fizz is a popular fizz variety cocktail.

It typically contains very simple ingredients which makes it easy to make: gin, lemon juice, sweetener, and soda water (club soda / carbonated water). 

A gin fizz is a great cocktail for those that enjoy gin but are not big fans of tonic. The club soda adds a lot of effervescence which makes this a fun, bubbly drink to enjoy.

Making this Rosemary Gin Fizz Recipe

In this recipe, I’ve used a homemade rosemary simple syrup in place of a plain simple syrup for my sweetener in this version of the cocktail.

The rosemary simple syrup is a beautiful component of this cocktail. It’s herby without being too strong or overpowering. Using a flavored simple syrup such as rosemary will elevate your cocktails to another level.

Tools Needed to Make a Gin Fizz

You’ll need a few kitchen tools to make this easy gin cocktail. Here’s what I recommend having on hand before getting started:

• Small Saucepan — to make the rosemary simple syrup.
• Measuring Cups — for measuring simple syrup ingredients.
• Fine Mesh Strainer — to strain the cooked rosemary out of the simple syrup after cooking.
• Mason Jar — for storing leftover simple syrup. 
• Cocktail Shaker — a gin fizz is a shaken cocktail, so you’ll combine most of the ingredients in a shaker with ice to combine.
• Jigger — a jigger is a bar tool for measuring cocktail ingredients. I recommend having one because they have clear markings for various measurements.

What is in this Gin Fizz Recipe?

This fizzy gin cocktail is made with very simple ingredients and requires only one spirit to make – gin. Here’s what’s in the recipe:

• Ice
• Gin
• Fresh Lemon Juice
• Rosemary Simple Syrup
• Club Soda

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make this easy gin and lemon cocktail recipe, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

Gin Fizz Recipe FAQs

Got questions about how to make this fizzy gin sour cocktail? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

What type of gin should I use?

For a Gin Fizz, I recommend using London Dry Gin or Plymouth Gin when making this gin fizz cocktail, depending on your preference.

If you didn’t already know, there are three main types of gin:

• London Dry Gin: is the most common type of gin. It’s very dry, but beautifully aromatic and tastes strongly of juniper.
• Plymouth Gin: is lighter than London Dry Gin and is more citrus-forward in flavor.
• Old Tom Gin: is the sweetest of the three since simple syrup is added to it. It’s typically reserved for making Tom Collins cocktails.

Doesn’t a gin fizz have egg white in it?

Some versions of the gin fizz recipe use raw egg whites to produce a foamy top to the cocktail, however it is worth noting that IBA’s official recipe does not include an egg white.

I opted to leave them out of this recipe, but it is easy enough to add them in if you prefer. Here’s how to make a gin fizz cocktail with egg whites using the dry shake method:

Dry shake — Add an egg white and all of the ingredients EXCEPT the club soda to your cocktail shaker, shake once WITHOUT ice, then add the ice and shake for a second time. This create a layer of egg white foam on the top of your drink. 

After the dry shake, strain the gin fizz into an ice filled glass, then top with club soda and garnish.

Can I use a different flavored simple syrup?

Absolutely! I have several other simple syrup recipes. You can definitely experiment with using fruit-based simple syrups instead of rosemary simple syrup to create your own version of a gin fizz drink.

Or, for a traditional gin fizz, simple use plain, unflavored simple syrup.

How should I garnish a gin fizz?

A classic Gin Fizz is garnished simply with a lemon slice. However, in this recipe I’m also garnishing the cocktail with a sprig of fresh rosemary as a nod to the rosemary simple syrup in the cocktail.

For even more flourish you can smoke the rosemary just before the cocktail is served.

Guests love the theatrics of this and smoking the garnish is a way of releasing the essential rosemary oils which infuse the drink with a richer, more complex rosemary flavor.

The smokiness adds another layer of flavor to your gin fizz cocktail and is a visually appealing technique. To smoke rosemary simply light it with a match and wait for a flame to appear. It will quickly burn out producing a beautiful cloud of fragrant smoke.

Can I make an alcohol-free gin fizz?

If you’re sober curious or don’t drink alcohol, you can use non-alcoholic alternatives to make this fruity gin cocktail. 

I have not tried making a non-alcoholic version of this gin fizz recipe myself, but there are many alcohol-free spirits on the market that you could use.

A few options for Alcohol-Free Gin: : 

• Lyre’s
• Ritual Zero Proof
• Monday
• New London Light  

Safety tip: Note that depending on brand you use, some alcohol-removed spirits may still contain trace amounts of alcohol. Check before using/serving to kids or drinking during pregnancy, etc. 

Try this Rosemary Gin Fizz!

Next time you’re looking for a new drink recipe to make at home , give this Rosemary Gin Fizz a try!

Did you love the herbaceous notes that the rosemary simple syrup added? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this great recipe.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me @goodlifeeats #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this gin fizz cocktail!

More Gin Drinks

Now that you know how to make this gin cocktail with lemon, you might want to try your hand at some of these other gin drink recipes:

Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.

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