While you could craft your drink with butterfly tear infused tequila and garnish it antique cucumber flowers to reach refreshment, you can also just make the simple classic Tom Collins. Originally made with Old Tom Gin, the Tom Collins is reminiscent of refreshing spiked lemonade. Best of all, it can be made with things you generally would have around your house.
Tom Collins
The Tom Collins remains popular today because it’s clean, simple, and refreshing. The gin is allowed to shine, but given a lift by copious fresh lemon and a hint of sweetness. The bubbly club livens it up, and the cherry and orange add a pop of color.
Drink Notes & Recommendations
The Tom Collins is fairly universal in terms of how they’re constructed, with only some minor variation in the amount of simple syrup. There’s nothing particularly complicated here, but it also has a very similar build to most sours. For that reason, you can riff on the Tom Collins by making adjustments in sweetness modifiers or citrus.
- Gin – Beefeater is our choice, but any London Dry Gin will work.
- Lemon Juice – Use fresh squeezed as always.
- Simple Syrup – A traditional 1:1 water to sugar simple is classic for this recipe.
- Garnish – To make a cherry orange flag, skewer the orange and the cherry together, and lay across the finished drink.
- Glassware – The word Collins is in the title. Serve it in a Collins glass when possible.
- Ice – As you’re going to be adding ingredients, stop at about 70% ice when starting the Collins glass. Add more if needed.
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