Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor

The Fitzgerald is a simple, deliciously lemony gin cocktail named to honor one of America’s most significant and tragic literary figures, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and his notorious (sadly also fatal) love of gin and other excesses. Noted mixologist Dale DeGroff created the drink about 30 years ago; here’s his telling, from the pages of his classic book, “The Craft of the Cocktail:”

“I came up with this one on the fly one busy night at the Rainbow Room Promenade Bar when a customer who was bored with his regular summer libation (Gin and Tonic) asked me for a new gin drink for summer. The drink has appeared on craft bar menus around the world thanks to the internet.”

DeGroff’s original choice for the gin in this drink was New York Distilling’s Dorothy Parker Gin—itself named for the famous writer of Algonquin Round Table fame, credited with certain famous (but possibly apocryphal) witticisms about drinking. “I couldn’t resist this literary marriage, albeit only in a drink,” DeGroff said.

That particular gin is hard to find in distribution, but your favorite London Dry Gin with proof strength in the mid-eighties should work beautifully. I’ll suggest Bombay Dry, Fords Gin, or London Dry adjacent gins such as McKenzie Distiller’s Reserve, Citadelle, or The Botanist. A “New World” or “New Western Dry” gin might work well, too; in fact, Dorothy Parker Gin falls in that category, but I’m disinclined to go with a very floral gin for this drink. (For gin lovers interested in a deeper dive into the various styles of gin, here’s a decent perspective from Bon Appetit magazine.) 

Some Fitzgerald recipes I’ve seen use a little less simple syrup and/or lemon juice or pare back the aromatic bitters to just two dashes. Try a few variations of your own to see what balance of sweet, tart, and spice you prefer. This is my favorite mix.

THE FITZGERALD
1½ oz London Dry Gin (84-88 proof to be authentic, higher if you choose!)
¾ oz Simple syrup
¾ oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice
Four dashes of Angostura/aromatic bitters
One thin lemon wheel for garnish

Shake all liquid ingredients with ice and strain them into an ice-filled rocks/Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with the lemon wheel.

About our Cocktail of the Week partners—shop local and independent!
Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor are less than a mile from each other, on Monroe Avenue near Twelve Corners in Brighton.

Cooks’ World, in business since 1978, is Rochester’s premier retailer of dining, kitchen, and cooking products, including a complete selection of glassware, mixology tools, and accessories for wine and spirits lovers. Follow Cooks’ World on Facebook and Instagram. Sign up here to receive Cooks’ World’s daily email specials and other news. 

Pinnacle Wine & Liquor, in business since 1997, offers a thoughtfully curated selection of spirits and wine from around the world, with a savvy staff to assist in your selection and encourage you along your cocktail and wine journey. Follow Pinnacle on Facebook and Instagram. For the inside track on Pinnacle’s spirits sales, send two text messages to (585)765-7546:
— Text the word “bourbon,” to receive weekly text messages offering the chance to buy rare or allocated whiskies or special prices on popular products.
—Text the word “spirits,” to receive roughly monthly offers on fine spirits other than whiskies.