Gibson
A dry gin martini garnished with cocktail onions—clean, crisp, and subtly savory.
36%
ABV
easy
Difficulty
martini
Glass
History & Heritage
“Several legends surround the Gibson: some credit illustrator Charles Dana Gibson, others banker Walter D. K. Gibson, who allegedly requested onions instead of olives at San Francisco's Bohemian Club around 1900. Whatever the origin, the onion garnish defined the drink as a savory cousin to the Martini.”
Ingredients
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Each component plays a crucial role.
2.5 oz
0.5 oz
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Add gin and dry vermouth to a mixing glass with ice
Stir until very cold and well diluted
Strain into a chilled martini glass
Garnish with 1–2 cocktail onions
Glassware
Served up in a chilled martini glass
Garnish
Skewer 1–2 pearl onions
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Chill glassware and stir for clarity
Use fresh cocktail onions for a clean brine note
Keep onion brine cold to avoid cloudiness
Flavor Journey
Every great cocktail tells a story through its flavors. Here's the sensory experience you can expect.
Sweet
out of 10
Sour
out of 10
Bitter
out of 10
Strong
out of 10
Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Gibson.
Dirty Gibson
Adds a barspoon of onion brine for extra savoriness.
Changes
Rosemary Gibson
Stirs with a rosemary sprig for piney aroma.
Changes
Vodka Gibson
Replaces gin with vodka for a neutral canvas.
Changes
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Dirty Martini
The savory martini variation enriched with olive brine—salty, crisp, and bracing.
Classic Martini
The king of cocktails—minimalist, elegant and endlessly riffed—balancing aromatic gin with a restrained measure of vermouth.
Clover Club
Pre-Prohibition gin sour colored with raspberry and crowned with a dry-shaken egg white foam.