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Cocktail History
The Gin & Sin is a vintage cocktail that was created in the 1920s during Prohibition when creative recipes emerged to mask the taste of poorly made spirits. Although its creator and exact place of origin are unknown, the cocktail traditionally combines gin, one of the most accessible liquors at the time, with citrus juices and grenadine, creating a flavorful and easy-to-drink concoction that was known for its ability to disguise the harshness of bootlegged alcohol. Its name also likely plays on the era’s moral tension between indulgence (“sin”) and the societal push for temperance.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
London Dry Gin: This is a type of gin made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol that has been infused with flavor through redistillation without artificial ingredients or colors. I used Broker’s Premium London Dry Gin.
Orange Juice: This is the liquid juice of an orange. I used freshly squeezed orange juice.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. I used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Grenadine: This is a sweetener made with pomegranate juice and white sugar. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.
Orange Twist: This is the peel of an orange that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I 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. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Light pink-orange color
• Aroma: Citrus with hints of juniper
• Taste: Tart and sweet flavor with a bright citrus kick and airy gin botanicals
• Finish: More crisp and clean botanicals with sugary pomegranate notes
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “I had never heard of this classic before finding it in the book and assumed it would be fairly palatable given its just loads of citrus juice with some gin. The sweet and tart fruit does an excellent job of masking the spirit’s flavor, which I believe makes the Gin & Sin an excellent pick for those just getting into gin’s renowned juniper notes. I liked it a lot and will definitely make it again when I come across interesting bottles of gin.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Art of Vintage Cocktails by Stephanie Rosenbaum.
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.
Gin & Sin
The Gin & Sin is a classic cocktail that was created in the 1920s. The creator and exact place of origin of this recipe are unknown, but it is traditionally made with a simple gin, citrus, and grenadine template.
Ingredients
Method
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Add gin, orange juice, lemon juice, grenadine, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a cocktail glass.
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Garnish with orange twist.
