Gibson (cocktail)

Gibson is a popular cocktail that is traditionally composed of gin and vermouth, and garnished with a pickled onion. The Gibson is often considered a variation of the classic Martini, substituting the Martini's traditional olive or lemon twist garnish with a pickled onion.

History

The origins of the Gibson are unclear, with numerous competing claims and little in the way of definitive evidence. One popular story attributes the creation of the Gibson to San Francisco businessman Walter D. K. Gibson in the late 19th century, who believed that eating onions would prevent colds, and so he decided to add a pickled onion to his Martini. However, this story is often disputed.

Another theory suggests that the Gibson was created by Charles Dana Gibson, a well-known American artist, who challenged a bartender to improve upon the Martini. The bartender simply substituted the olive garnish for a pickled onion and named the drink after Gibson.

Preparation

The Gibson is typically prepared by stirring 2 ounces of gin and 1 ounce of dry vermouth with ice, then straining the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass. The drink is then garnished with one or two pickled onions. Some variations of the Gibson use vodka instead of gin.

Variations

There are several variations of the Gibson, including the Dirty Gibson, which includes a splash of onion brine, and the Gibson Royale, which replaces the gin with champagne.

In popular culture

The Gibson has been featured in numerous films and television shows, most notably in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest, where the protagonist, played by Cary Grant, orders a Gibson.

See also

• List of cocktails
• Martini (cocktail)
• Cocktail garnish