Tom Collins

Before we get to the classic Tom Collins drink recipe, here are some other classic gin drinks that'll probably give you a big gin grin: the Classic Gin Martini, the Aviation, the Singapore Sling, the Gimlet, and the French 75. According to the Tom Collins cocktail Wikipedia page, the drink was "First memorialized in writing in 1876 by Jerry Thomas, 'the father of American mixology'... [and] is typically served in a Collins glass over ice." The Tom Collins mixed drink Wikipedia page also notes that the "British physician Sir Morell Mackenzie wrote an article in the influential 19th century magazine Fortnightly Review... that England was the originating country for the Tom Collins cocktail and a person named John Collins was its creator." However, the Tom Collins Wikipedia page also notes that "Cocktail historian David Wondrich stated that there are several other earlier mentions of this version of the drink and that it does bear a striking resemblance to the gin punches served at London clubs like the Garrick in the first half of the 19th century." As a side note, there apparently used to be a popular running joke in the 1870s using the Tom Collins as the name of a a fictional man who would talk sh*t about somebody. Gunther Toody's notes that "The goal [of the joke] was to upset [a] person enough that they would go looking for this fictional man." And while this joke is clearly lame AF, even for the 19th century, the flavors in this fizzy lemon gin drink are still serious as heck. TOM COLLINS 1 1/2 oz. (45ml) Gin 1 oz. (30ml) Freshly Lemon Juice 1/2 oz. (15ml) Simple Syrup Top with Soda Water Garnish: Lemon Slice PREPARATION 1. Build in collins glass filled with ice. 2. Garnish with a lemon slice. DRINK RESPONSIBLY!