gibson
n. countablen. a mixed drink made with gin and dry vermouth, served with a small pickled onion instead of an olive.
n. a cocktail variant of the martini, traditionally composed of gin and dry vermouth and garnished with a pickled cocktail onion.
He ordered a Gibson at the bar and ate the onion first.
While most people prefer a classic martini with an olive, he always chooses a Gibson for the savory flavor of the onion.
The subtle acidity of the pickled onion distinguishes the Gibson from its more famous relative, providing a sharp contrast to the botanical notes of the gin.
From Gibb + -son.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Usually capitalized as it is likely named after a person; functions as a countable noun when referring to the drink itself.
- Noungibson
- Noungilbert
Last updated May 2, 2026