I’ve spent a lot of time talking to various bartenders and mixologists and almost universally the drink they say will “send them into the weeds” on a busy night (aka get them irreparably backed up) is the Ramos Gin Fizz.
Fortunately (or unfortunately in this case), I tend to drink at bars where I know the bartenders. The upside to this is that I’ve had some amazing drinks. The downside is that I’ve never been able to order a Ramous Gin Fizz for fear of pissing off someone I know and like.
The other night I was at an event for the Oregon Bartender’s Guild (at the delightful Spints Alehouse) where they were tasting and mixing Organic Nation‘s vodka and gin.
Mixologist, author and fellow blogger Jacob Grier decided to, just for the heck of it, make a few Ramos Gin Fizz’s (he was joined by fellow Oregon Bartender’s Guild chair Chris Churilla)
Here’s the recipe for the Ramos Gin Fizz:
1 1/2 oz. gin
1 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz. fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice
1 egg white (1 1/2 oz of egg whites)
1 1/4 oz. heavy cream
3 drops orange flower water
1 oz. club soda
(Combine ingredients (minus the soda) in a shaker with crushed ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass. Top with club soda and stir.)
Although it’s not an amazingly complex drink the key to a great Ramous Gin Fizz is in the shake. I’ve heard some bartenders will shake it for as long as 10 minutes. While many do at least two.
The drink itself is a lovely light and florally bubbly delight. The gin and the orange flower water compliment each other very well and the soda/cream/egg white mix makes it feel like you’re sipping an old fashioned egg cream. These are actually a little dangerous because it’s easy to knock them back and forget about the 1 1/2 oz of gin in each one.
The Ramos Gin Fizz is certainly a drink I like and one I hope to come back to again. Knowing how much shake it needs I’ll probably reserve it for early in the week nights when I make a trek out to my favorite bar. I’ll of course have to order it with a smile and tip well (which I always try to do at places I frequent).
A side note, I had the Organic Nation Gin in several drinks and found it to be an exceptionally pleasant mixing gin with just the right amount of juniper. I’ve never been a huge fan of gin, but between the Organic Nation Gin and Jacob Grier’s Ramos Gin Fizz, I’m starting to look at gin in a whole new light.
