House & Garden

Traditionally, no ice is used in this drink. For those who dislike un-iced drinks, pour the gin and vermouth over 2 or 3 ice cubes in an Old-fashioned glass. The "It" in the name refers to Italian (sweet) vermouth. The drink is sometimes called Gin and Cin (pronounced "sin") after Cinzano, a popular brand of Italian vermouth.

This drink is sometimes called Champagne Velvet, and in certain quarters is known as the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Shandygaff, a fine euphoric title.