Before the history lesson, for the readers who want to try this themselves, I've curated a dedicated ingredient list you can shop in one click. And now the story.
The Gin Fizz belongs to the "fizz" family, documented by Jerry Thomas in his pioneering 1876 edition of "The Bartender's Guide." Thomas described fizzes as drinks to be consumed "as quickly as possible" after the final fizz of soda water, because the effervescence was the whole point. The Gin Fizz was an instant American classic.
Its golden age was the early 20th century, when bartender Henry Ramos of New Orleans elevated it into the legendary Ramos Gin Fizz. The simpler, original Gin Fizz became a staple of Prohibition-era speakeasies, where its effervescence and lemony brightness could mask the rough edges of bathtub gin. Today it remains the purest expression of the fizz tradition.
History is better when you can drink it, and a well-equipped home bar is what makes the difference. A solid barman kit like this one on Amazon gives you everything you need to mix with confidence: shaker, jigger, strainer and more. If you host often, a professional cocktail bar station is the final step, a dedicated stage where every bottle has its place.