This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.
Cocktail History
The Eastside is a modern cocktail that was created by George Delgado at Libation in New York City, New York but ultimately gained popularity after being added to the menu at Milk & Honey. The recipe is a more complex variation of the Southside that muddles refreshing cucumber into the classic’s template of gin, citrus, mint, and simple syrup.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. We used Kaikyō Distillery Hyogo 135 Degree East Dry Gin because it’s made with unique Japanese botanicals. For a mocktail version of this drink, try MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. We used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s stovetop recipe.
Cucumber Slices: This is a cucumber slice that has been thinly cut into wheel shape.
Mint Leaves: This is an herb. We used Mojito mint leaves.
Mint Sprig: This is an herb. We used Mojito mint.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Muddler: This is used to muddle ingredients. We used the HQY Stainless Steel Cocktail Muddler.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. We used one from the Prodyne Stainless Steel Martini Picks Set.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-08.
Tasting Notes
The Eastside has strong aromas of mint and cucumber, an initial taste of herbal gin mingled with mint, and finishes with flavors of gin, alkaline cucumber, citrus, and mint.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: To say this drink was a hit would be an understatement; we both enjoyed it just as much as its predecessor. Although originally made with Hendricks in mind, we took it a bit further East by using a Japanese gin for all of the right herbal qualities. Do yourself a favor and whip up an Eastside sometime before summer ends.
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I went probably a year drinking essentially nothing but Southsides, so since this template is already on my list of favorites, I knew I was likely to love this one too. Boy, was I right! The addition of cucumber adds in another layer of both coolness and complexity that I very much enjoyed. Unfortunately for me, cucumber is one of those foods that causes fairly intense acid reflux though, so I’m not likely to indulge in these very often for that reason alone. Otherwise, I’ve be serving these up often during the spring and summer.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Steve The Bartender’s Cocktail Guide by Steve Roennfeldt.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-08.
Eastside
The Eastside is a modern cocktail that was created by George Delgado at Libation in New York City, New York but ultimately gained popularity after being added to the menu at Milk & Honey. The recipe is a more complex variation of the Southside that muddles refreshing cucumber into the classic’s template of gin, citrus, mint, and simple syrup.
Ingredients
Method
-
Add three cucumbers slices and mint leaves to a shaker.
-
Muddle gently for 5-7 seconds.
-
Add gin, lime juice, simple syrup, and cubed ice to shaker.
-
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
-
Fine strain into a cocktail glass.
-
Garnish with remaining cucumber slice and mint sprig.
