The Ramos Gin Fizz: A New Orleans Liquid History, with John Shelton Reed

Join Al Zambone and guest John Shelton Reed (author of The Ramos Gin Fizz, for the LSU Press series on iconic New Orleans cocktails) for a deep dive into the history, culture, and legend of the Ramos Gin Fizz—a cocktail that’s as much a symbol of New Orleans as it is a drink. From its 19th-century origins and the city’s cosmopolitan mix, to Prohibition, Huey Long, and the modern cocktail renaissance, this episode explores how a single drink can carry the weight of place and time.00:00 — Podcast intro00:23 — Welcome and guest introduction02:35 — The Ramos Gin Fizz: A New Orleans Legend (episode setup)02:35 — Origins and pronunciation of “Ramos”05:56 — Carl Ramos’s biography and 19th-century mobility05:56 — New Orleans in the late 19th century05:56 — Cosmopolitan city, Caribbean and European connections08:56 — Cultural divisions in New Orleans10:55 — German immigration and Civil War era11:06 — Rise of celebrity bartenders and cocktail culture13:18 — New Orleans’ iconic cocktails16:22 — The Ramos Gin Fizz recipe and its components17:45 — Al’s first attempt at the drink19:30 — The “shaker boys” and the three-minute shake21:00 — Flavor profile and chemistry29:29 — Fame, Prohibition, and Huey Long38:23 — Southern soft drinks and temperance44:48 — Where to find the perfect Ramos Gin Fizz today46:46 — Closing thoughts and thanksFor Further Investigation John Shelton Reed, Dixie Bohemia: A French Quarter Circle in the 1920s"How the South Cornered the Soda Market"The Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt HotelRevel Cafe and Bar– where Chris McMillian spells it "Ramos Gin Phizz", which just makes everything a little more confusing than it already was