Tom Collins (New York)

Drinks historian David Wondrich has speculated that the original recipe that was introduced to New York in the 1850s would have been very similar to the Gin Punches that are known to have been served at fashionable London clubs such as the Garrick during the first half of the 19th century. He states that these would have been along the lines of "gin, lemon juice, chilled soda water, and maraschino liqueur". The specific call for Old Tom gin in the 1869 recipe is a likely cause for the subsequent name change to "Tom Collins" (from John Collins) in Jerry Thomas's "The Bartender's Guide".

A well made Tom Collins will cool the soul on a scorching day. It is a classic drink which can be from gin or even vodka (when made with vodka, it is known as a Vodka Collins).

2 lemons
4 tsp. brown sugar (20 g)
2/3 oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed (20 mL)
1 2/3 oz Old Tom style or London Dry gin (50 mL)
cubed ice
club soda

Garnish:
lemon slices
maraschino cherries

Cut 1 lemon half into quarters.

Squeeze 2 lemon quarters into the mixing glass. Add the brown sugar. Add the lemon juice.

Muddle the lemon juice and sugar. Muddling is done using a muddle, which is like a pestle; it is done to release flavor of fruits and herbs in cocktails. Hold you hand over the top of the glass as you use the muddle in a grinding type of motion to crush the lemon. Add gin to muddled mixture.

Fill the mixing glass with cubed ice. Put the top half of the shaker on the glass and press down firmly.

Hold the top and bottom of shaker while shaking vigorously. Shake the mixture over your shoulder for about 20 seconds or until the mixture feels very cold. You will feel the coldness coming through the shaker.

Open the shaker by removing the top of the shaker. Add ice cubes to the tall glass. Do not fill to the top of the glass but about 1/3 of the glass should have ice cubes.

Add the 2 remaining lemon slices to the glass.

Top up the glass with ice cubes.

Place the cocktail strainer on top of the cocktail shaker. Strain the mixture into the cocktail glass.

Fill the remainder of the glass with soda. You can also add a splash of lemonade to make it a longer drink, or to make it more refreshing for summer.

Serve. Garnishes may included sliced lemons and maraschino cherries, if desired.

Makes 1 drink.