Orange Fizz - Classic Gin, Orange & Soda Cocktail

The Orange Fizz combines dry gin with fresh orange and lemon juices, then finishes the drink with lively club soda. Orange provides natural fruit sweetness, lemon keeps the drink sharp, and carbonation stretches everything into a crisp tall serve. It is simple, bright, and particularly good when the citrus is freshly squeezed.

A Classic Orange Fizz

The Orange Fizz appears in early 20th-century cocktail literature, including Harry Craddock's 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book. That documented version combines dry gin with orange juice, lemon or lime, and soda water. Rather than adding orange liqueur or extra sweetener, the drink gets its fruit character directly from fresh orange juice.

What You'll Need

Ingredients

• Gin: Provides the dry botanical backbone of the cocktail.
• Orange Juice: Adds fresh orange flavor and restrained natural sweetness.
• Lemon Juice: Supplies acidity that keeps the orange from tasting flat.
• Club Soda: Lengthens the cocktail and provides its signature fizz.

A London Dry gin gives the drink a crisp juniper-forward profile, while a softer citrus-forward gin makes the orange more prominent.

Fresh lime juice can replace lemon for a sharper variation, reflecting another historically documented approach to the drink.

Plain sparkling water can replace club soda as long as it is cold and unsweetened.

Equipment

• Cocktail shaker
• Jigger
• Strainer
• Collins Glass
• Ice

Orange Without the Orange Liqueur

The defining feature here is how much flavor comes from the juice itself. Orange juice supplies both fruit and sweetness, while lemon provides enough acidity to stop the drink from becoming soft or dull. Gin remains clearly present underneath, and soda turns the citrus mixture into a light, sparkling serve.

Substitutions & Variations

• Lime variation: Replace the lemon with fresh lime for a sharper citrus profile.
• Different gin styles: A citrus-forward gin reinforces the orange, while London Dry emphasizes juniper.
• Longer serve: Add a little more club soda for a lighter version.
• Blood orange variation: Fresh blood orange juice gives the drink a deeper citrus flavor and distinctive color.
• Grapefruit accent: Replace a small portion of the orange juice with fresh grapefruit for a more bitter citrus edge.

Helpful Tips

• Use freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice. With only four ingredients, citrus quality has a noticeable impact.
• Chill the Collins Glass before mixing.
• Shake only the gin and juices. Never put club soda in the shaker.
• Use cold, freshly opened club soda for stronger carbonation.
• Strain before adding the soda so the bubbles stay lively.
• Stir only once or twice after topping.
• An orange twist or thin orange wheel makes a natural garnish.
• Serve immediately while the drink is cold and fully carbonated.