Yes, yes. I constantly harp on the importance of imbibing in and appreciating true cocktail classics, and this post is no different. Just because you’re looking for something cool, thirst-quenching and refreshing doesn’t mean you have to hit up some bizarre "martini" menu. Nope, instead, you can look to true masters of the cocktail art, like the "father of American mixology," Jerry Thomas, who gave us this recipe back in 1876.

As RJR pointed out in comments below, back in the day the Tom Collins was actually made with fresh lemon juice, as well as sugar, instead of sweet and sour mix. Following is the true way to make a Tom Collins, with only fresh ingredients:

Tom Collins
2 oz gin
1 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp superfine sugar
3 oz soda water
1 slice orange, for garnish
1 maraschino cherry, for garnish

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add your gin, lemon juice and sugar. Shake vigorously until mixed well. Strain into a collins glass filled with ice. Add soda water to the top and garnish with the orange slice and maraschino cherry.

Tom Collins (quicker version, with Collins Mix)
1½ oz gin
3 oz sweet and sour mix
1 cup soda water
1 slice orange, for garnish
1 maraschino cherry, for garnish
Ice

Fill your cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka and sweet and sour mix. Shake well and strain into a collins glass (or highball glass) filled with ice. Fill to the top with soda water and garnish with orange slice and cherry.

Cheers!

TAGS [ TOM COLLINS | TOM COLLINS RECIPE | TOM COLLINS COCKTAIL | COCKTAIL RECIPE | COCKTAIL RECIPES ]