Description
The Tom Collins is a refreshing classic cocktail made with gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup, topped with club soda. Garnished with a lemon wheel and maraschino cherry, it’s perfect for warm days and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 oz simple syrup
- Club soda (to top)
- Ice cubes
- Lemon wheel (for garnish)
- Maraschino cherry (for garnish)
Instructions
- Gather Your Ingredients: Collect all the ingredients listed above, ensuring you have fresh lemons for the juice.
- Make Simple Syrup: Combine equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan (e.g., 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water). Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool. Store any leftover syrup in the refrigerator for up to a month.
- Juice the Lemons: Roll the lemons on the countertop to soften them, then cut in half and extract 1 oz of fresh lemon juice. Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds or pulp if desired.
- Prepare Your Shaker: Fill a cocktail shaker (or a mason jar with a lid) with ice cubes.
- Add the Ingredients: Pour in 2 oz of gin, 1 oz of fresh lemon juice, and 1 oz of simple syrup into the shaker.
- Shake It Up: Secure the lid and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds until well mixed and chilled.
- Prepare Your Glass: Fill a tall Collins glass with ice cubes.
- Strain the Mixture: Using a strainer, pour the shaken mixture over the ice in your glass.
- Top with Club Soda: Carefully pour club soda into the glass until filled to the top (about 2-4 oz).
- Garnish Your Drink: Garnish with a lemon wheel on the rim and a maraschino cherry dropped in.
- Stir Gently: Give the drink a gentle stir with a straw or stirrer before sipping.
- Taste and Adjust: Adjust sweetness with more simple syrup or tartness with more lemon juice as desired.
- Serve and Share: Multiply the ingredients for multiple servings and enjoy with friends!
Notes
- Choose a quality gin for the best flavor.
- Experiment with flavors by adding fresh herbs or infusing simple syrup with fruits.
- Chill glasses in the freezer for an extra refreshing experience.
- For a non-alcoholic version, replace gin with additional club soda.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes