The Gin Daisy: the classic cocktail you've never heard of but are going to love
Apr 18, 2021
A heady combination of gin, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and soda, all served over mounds of crushed ice, the Gin Daisy is our tipple of choice when we're gasping for a fruity cocktail!
And it’s the fourth installment to our A-Z Classic Gin Cocktail franchise. In this cocktail series thus far, we’ve shined a spotlight on the Alexander, Bee’s Knees and Clover Club. One sip of this bright classic cocktail and you'll see why we had to mention this beauty!
Did you know that the Gin Daisy is actually part of a family of cocktails - like Sours, or Fizzes? In other words, you can make it with all sorts of spirits, not just gin! You’ll find Whisky Daisies, Brandy Daisies and Vodka Daisies on cocktail menus around the world - but naturally, we think the Gin Daisy is the best of the bunch!
So, what’s in a Daisy and what does it taste like?
Well, it’s similar to a sour cocktail, in that it’s refreshingly tart and slightly sweet. The difference from a Sour is that you add soda water to a Daisy to make it longer, and it’s served over heaps of refreshing crushed ice, a bit like a cobbler.
First invented in the second half of the 19th century, the Daisy is a true classic cocktail - it made its first known appearance in a novel published in 1866!
While you might expect it to have a floral flavour profile, the Daisy is in fact very fruit-forward. The confusion arises from the name – back in the 19th century, the word ‘daisy’ was slang for something extraordinary – which is certainly an accurate description of this delicious cocktail.
The original recipe was later listed in the legendary cocktail book published in 1876, How to Mix Drinks, and went on to become a firm favourite of bartenders and cocktail connoisseurs alike for the next century.
In fact, the Daisy was so influential that it is said it went on to inspire more classic cocktails in their own right, including the Sidecar and the Cosmopolitan!
Time to whip up this delicious cocktail - it’s incredibly easy make!
45ml gin
15ml Cointreau
15ml grenadine
20ml lemon juice
50ml soda water, to top up
Mint sprig and orange peel, to garnish
Add your first four ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a large rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Top up with soda water, garnish and serve!
