Gin Daisy recipe
A refreshing nineteenth-century classic pairing aromatic gin, bright citrus, rich orange liqueur, and grenadine.
Method: Shake and strain ·
Glass: Chilled old-fashioned glass ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 60 ml London dry gin
- 22.5 ml Fresh lemon juice
- 15 ml Orange liqueur (triple sec or curaçao)
- 7.5 ml Grenadine syrup
- 30 ml Club soda (topped)
How to make a Gin Daisy
- Add gin, fresh lemon juice, orange liqueur, and grenadine to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously for ten to fifteen seconds until thoroughly chilled.
- Fill a chilled old-fashioned glass with crushed ice.
- Strain the shaken mixture over the crushed ice.
- Top with club soda and gently stir to combine.
Garnish
Garnish with a lemon wheel and a brandied cherry.
Pro tip
Use crushed ice rather than large cubes to achieve the traditional dilution and frosty texture characteristic of nineteenth-century daisy cocktails.
History of the Gin Daisy
First appearing in print during the 1870s, the Daisy family of cocktails bridges the gap between sours and highballs. While cocktail lore frequently credits pioneering bartender Jerry Thomas with codifying early daisy recipes featuring genever or brandy, historical attribution remains debated by spirits historians who trace similar sour-and-liqueur templates across multiple American bars of that era. As gin gained prominence toward the close of the nineteenth century, the Gin Daisy emerged as a popular warm-weather refreshment, distinguished from standard sours by the addition of orange liqueur and grenadine, finished with a splash of soda water over crushed ice.
Flavour profile
Citrusy, Tart, Floral, Refreshing
Variations
- Whiskey Daisy — Substitute rye whiskey or bourbon for the gin.
- Mexican Daisy — Substitute blanco tequila for the gin and lime juice for the lemon juice.
Practise making the Gin Daisy in the free Virtual Bar game.