Tom Collins
The Tom Collins is a simple gin-based cocktail with an effervescent quality to it. This combination of gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup is served “tall” in a Collins glass and generously topped with club soda to give it some fizz. Beyond it’s obvious connection to the style of glassware, the “Tom” in Tom Collins refers to the specific type of gin (Old Tom) traditionally used which I’d known to be generally sweeter than other types of gin; nowadays the libation is far less prescriptive with the gin preference. Because this libation has a citrus component, convention dictates that you shake the ingredients to incorporate them, however, to avoid unnecessary explosions, it is important to note that club soda should be added directly to the glass and not into the shaker. As previously mentioned, the Tom Collins is served tall over ice or an ice spear (sometimes referred to as a Collins spear) and garnished with a lemon wheel and maraschino cherry. If “tall” is not your style, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with using a rocks glass, however, I would recommend the omission of club soda all together (and consider increasing the lemon juice slightly). But don’t take my word for it, make one and try it for yourself!
Tom Collins
In your shaker, combine the simple syrup, lemon juice, and gin.
0.75 oz of Simple Syrup
0.75 oz of Lemon Juice
2 oz of Gin
2 oz of Club Soda (to top)
Add ice to your shaker and shake until you will see a frost develop across it. Double-strain the contents (by pouring them from the shaker through a fine mesh strainer) into your Collins glass over ice and top with soda. Garnish with a lemon wheel and maraschino cherry.
