Gin and It
4.0 138 ratings
Ingredients
How to make
Serve in a coupe glass
Prepare
- 1 Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
- 2 Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist (or orange slice wheel if serving on-the-rocks).
Method
- 3 STIR all ingredients with ice.
- 4 FINE STRAIN into chilled glass. (Or if serving on-the-rocks, strain into ice-filled old-fashioned glass, preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).
Garnish
- 5 EXPRESS lemon zest twist over cocktail (or garnish with orange wheel if serving on-the-rocks).
Flavour profile
26.5% alc./vol. · 1.4 standard drinks · 151 calories
History
Since both vermouth and gin are flavored with similar botanicals, they share an affinity. This drink, though simple, is a fabulously tasty combination of botanicals, wine, and spirit when made with a full-bodied Vermouth di Torino. The proportions used here are from Stanley M. Jones' 1977 Jones' Complete Barguide.
This recipe is adapted from Stanley M. Jones' 1977 Jones' Complete Barguide. The name "It" is an abbreviation for Italian, referring to the sweet (rosso) vermouth, which was traditionally imported from Italy, while French vermouth was typically dry. Dale DeGroff, in his 2002 book The Craft of the Cocktail, asserts that the Gin and It was initially called the Sweet Martini and was a popular choice in the 1880s and 1890s at Manhattan establishments like the Hoffman House. It later became known as 'Gin & Italian' and was shortened to 'Gin & It' during Prohibition. The earliest known printed mention of this cocktail by the name "Gin & It" is in Frank Meier's 1936 publication, The Artistry of Mixing Drinks. During the era of American Prohibition, the Gin & It found its way to London. Given the British fondness for gin, the Gin & It became a widely enjoyed drink and a standard pub offering. The Gin & It's popularity, along with that of both gin and vermouth, declined in the late 1980s but is now experiencing a resurgence among a new wave of gin and vermouth enthusiasts. Gin & It Cocktail Glass Stir No ice 1¾ oz Gin ¾ oz Sweet vermouth (Optional: Coat inside of glass with vermouth) Note: "IT" is Italian Vermouth GIN & IT Gin and Italian In cocktail glass: half Gin, half Italian Vermouth. Should not be iced.