Gibson

What is a Gibson Cocktail?

A Gibson is a classic savory cocktail made with gin. It is a variation of a Dry Martini but is garnished with a cocktail onion instead of lemon zest.

What Does a Gibson Cocktail Taste Like?

A Gibson Martini is savory and tangy. It offers a crisp, clean taste with the dry, botanical notes of gin and vermouth. However, the pickled cocktaill onion adds a subtle sweetness, enhancing the drink’s complexity and character.

The History of the Gibson Cocktail

The first written reference to a Gibson appeared in 1898 in a New York newspaper. However, the first recipe for the drink didn’t appear in a book published until 1908. Interestingly, this early recipe didn’t specify an onion as the garnish. In fact, it wasn’t until 1917 that a martini made with Old Tom gin and Italian vermouth, known as an “L.P.W.,” featured a pickled onion.

Thus, it’s thought that the modern Gibson was crafted by a New York bartender in 1908 when he added an onion as a garnish to a signature martini.

Tips for Making the Perfect Gibson Cocktail

• Stir until you achieve the ‘perfect’ dilution
  When stirring the cocktail in your mixing glass, Ricardo “Rico” Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, advises, “Stir until perfectly cold and perfectly diluted.” How do you know when it’s just right? Rico recommends tasting a bit with a bar spoon  – if you enjoy the flavor, it’s perfectly diluted for you. If not, keep stirring.
• Pre-chill your Martini Glass
  Chilling your glass is a straightforward yet crucial step in creating the perfect Gibson. Make sure to chill your glassware 30 minutes to 2 hours ahead of time.

Variations of a Gibson Cocktail

A classic Martini is made with gin (or vodka) together with vermouth and garnished with lemon zest. Any additional ingredients, such as bitters, are used sparingly to add just a hint of flavor. With that in mind, below are a few variations of a Gibson:

Vodka Martini

Although the first martini was made with gin and remains a popular choice today, vodka has since become the preferred spirit for a classic martini. In brief, a Vodka Martini is cleaner, smoother and less aromatic than its counterpart. Discover the recipe for a Vodka Martini. 

Use Vodka instead of Gin in your Gibson

For an easy but equally elegant variation of a Gibson, simply follow the recipe on this page but swap gin for vodka. That’s it! Of course, you’ll lose the botanical notes that the gin provides but you’ll have a wonderfully smooth-drinking Gibson no less.  And if you prefer vodka over gin, then that’s the way to order a Gibson at a bar – a Gibson with vodka.

Dirty Martini

If it’s the savory element that you love about a Gibson, then you’re sure to enjoy a Dirty Martini. The Dirty Martini is one of the most loved savory cocktails, made with gin or vodka with olive brine and garnished with an olive. Learn how to make a classic Dry Martini.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Gibson Cocktail 

For a classic Gibson Martini, we recommend serving the Gibson in a chilled Martini glass.

The most defining feature of a Gibson is, of course, its cocktail onion garnish so that’s mandatory. Simply skewer one or two cocktail onions and place it directly in your glass. Simply perfect.