Southwest Side
London dry gin, Cordial Craft, and fresh mint are shaken cold, double strained, and finished with expressed lemon oil. It keeps the recognizable shape of a Southside while making the lime-cordial role clear and measured.
Classic lineage: Southside riff · Gin sour family
- Yield
- 1 cocktail
- Glassware
- Nick & Nora or coupe
- Technique
- Shake and double strain
- Service
- Served up
How to make the Southwest Side.
Keep the mint fresh, the measurements exact, and the final strain clean. Expressed lemon oil is the aromatic finish that ties the riff back to the original.
Ingredients
- 2 oz London Dry Gin
- 1 oz Cordial Craft Zero-Sugar Lime Cordial
- 5–6 fresh mint leaves
- Fresh ice for shaking
- Fresh lemon zest for expressed oil
- Optional single mint leaf, lemon twist, or mint sprig for the selected service model
Method
- Chill the glass. Prepare a Nick & Nora or coupe.
- Measure the base. Add the London dry gin and Cordial Craft to a shaker.
- Add the mint. Slap 5–6 mint leaves and add them to the shaker. Do not muddle.
- Shake with ice. Add ice and shake until thoroughly chilled.
- Double strain. Fine strain into the chilled glass.
- Express the lemon. Express fresh lemon zest over the surface, then finish with the garnish appropriate to the service model.
Fresh aromatics, clearly presented.
The pale green drink, fresh mint, and expressed lemon make the recipe legible before the first sip. Keep the glass cold and the surface free of torn mint.
Three aromatic layers, one concise sour.
The gin supplies the botanical frame. Cordial Craft supplies lime character, acidity, sweetness, and body. Mint and lemon then work above the liquid, adding freshness and brightness without another measured modifier.
Keep the measured build short.
Two ounces of London dry gin and one ounce of Cordial Craft create the controlled base.
Release aroma without shredding it.
Slap the leaves, then let the shake integrate their aroma without grinding the mint.
Finish above the surface.
Expressed zest adds brightness at the nose and preserves the drink’s Southside lineage.
A clean surface is part of the recipe.
Mint creates the character of the drink, but leaf fragments should not become the presentation. The handling and fine strain matter as much as the measured pour.
Slap, then stop.
Mint: Add the leaves after a quick slap. Do not muddle them into a paste or grind them against the tin.
Double strain every serving.
Strain: Use both the cocktail strainer and a fine strainer so the drink arrives with a composed surface.
Express lemon at the pass.
Aroma: Express the zest immediately before service so the lemon oil reaches the guest before the first sip.
Choose the garnish for the room.
Keep the aromatic requirement consistent, then select the visible garnish according to service speed and presentation standards.
About the ingredients.
This recipe uses 1 oz of Cordial Craft Zero-Sugar Lime Cordial. For nutrition and allergen information, check the labels of your gin and other ingredients as well as the cordial. Alcohol contributes calories.
Questions before you shake it.
The decisions that keep the Southwest Side crisp, aromatic, and practical in service.
Which gin works best?
Start with London dry gin. Different brands and strengths change the flavor and balance, so taste the finished drink before adjusting.
Should I muddle the mint?
No. Slap the 5–6 leaves, add them to the shaker, and rely on the shake to integrate their aroma without grinding the leaves.
Nick & Nora or coupe?
Either works. Choose the glass you prefer and chill it before straining.
Is the Southwest Side a zero-sugar cocktail?
Cordial Craft is zero sugar. For the finished cocktail, check the gin and any additions you use; sweetened spirits or garnishes can add sugar.
What is the streamlined garnish?
Express fresh lemon zest over the surface. A single mint leaf can be floated when service allows; a retained lemon twist and mint sprig are the more elaborate option.
Keep exploring gin, lime, and mint.
Move from the Southwest Side to a short cucumber-mint build, the Cordial Craft Gimlet base, or the complete recipe library.
A familiar gin-and-mint idea with a Cordial Craft signature.
Measure the build, treat the mint gently, double strain, and finish with lemon oil. The recipe stays concise so the aromatics and service technique can do their work.