The Southside is a refreshing gin cocktail with a notorious past—rumored to be the favorite drink of Al Capone himself. This bright, minty blend of gin, lime, and fresh mint became a Prohibition-era icon in the speakeasies of Chicago's South Side.
The History: Capone's Drink of Choice
The Southside's origins are debated, but the most popular story ties it directly to Chicago's South Side during Prohibition, where Al Capone ran his bootlegging empire from the early 1920s until his arrest in 1931.
Legend has it that the Southside was Capone's personal favorite—a refreshing, mint-forward cocktail that could mask the harsh taste of bathtub gin while keeping him cool during Chicago's sweltering summers. The drink became synonymous with the South Side speakeasies that Capone controlled, where gangsters, politicians, and socialites gathered to drink illegally in style.
Some cocktail historians trace the Southside back even further to the Southside Sportsmen's Club on Long Island in the early 1900s, where it was served as a refined gin and mint cocktail. But it was Prohibition—and Capone's alleged love for it—that cemented the Southside's place in cocktail history.
After Prohibition ended, the Southside remained a classic, especially in Chicago, where it's still served as a tribute to the city's wild, lawless past.
The Classic Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
- 3/4 oz simple syrup
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- Mint sprig and lime wheel for garnish
- Club soda (optional, for a Southside Fizz variation)
Instructions:
- Add fresh mint leaves to a cocktail shaker.
- Add lime juice and simple syrup, then gently muddle the mint to release its oils (don't over-muddle or it will turn bitter).
- Add gin and fill the shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds until well-chilled.
- Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass to remove mint bits.
- Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and a lime wheel.
- Optional: For a Southside Fizz, strain into a Collins glass over ice and top with club soda.
Tips for the Perfect Southside
Use fresh mint: This drink lives or dies by the quality of your mint. Use fresh, aromatic leaves and muddle gently—you want to release the oils, not pulverize the leaves.
Fresh lime juice is essential: Bottled lime juice will ruin the bright, refreshing character of this cocktail. Always use fresh-squeezed.
Choose your gin wisely: A London Dry gin works best here. The botanicals complement the mint and lime without overpowering them.
Double-strain for a clean drink: Straining through a fine mesh strainer removes mint fragments and gives you a smooth, professional finish.
Try the Fizz variation: Adding club soda makes it lighter and more refreshing—perfect for summer or when you want something a bit less boozy.
Bring Capone's Favorite Home
Want to experience the Southside beyond the glass? Our Southside soap captures the fresh, invigorating character of this legendary cocktail with bright mint and citrus notes. It's a daily dose of Prohibition-era cool, straight from the South Side of Chicago.
A Drink Fit for a Kingpin
Whether or not Al Capone actually drank Southsides in his South Side speakeasies, the legend has stuck—and for good reason. This is a cocktail with attitude, history, and a flavor profile that's as bold and refreshing as the era that made it famous.
So mix one up, raise a glass to Scarface, and enjoy a taste of Chicago's most notorious decade.
Cheers to the South Side.
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