The Bar Is Open!

When life hands you lemons......make a Tom Collins! This is a simple, elegant, classic drink. You should feel ever so sophisticated and yet a little rebellious drinking it. Why? Because the Tom Collins was a popular drink during prohibition. The upper crust would sit at white linen covered tables overlooking croquet matches and lawn bowling tournaments on hot days, sipping these lovely drinks at summer parties. Alcohol was illegal from 1920 to 1933, so this drink was also found in blind pigs and speakeasies (illegal drinking establishments) where those of lesser means could enjoy it and feel sophisticated, too. It is gin based and gin was easy to make because it doesn't require the long fermentation period of other alcohols.

If you've never had a Tom Collins, it is very refreshing with a taste similar to lemonade. If you follow the recipe as stated, it is quite tart. I, personally, add a bit more sugar. Either way, it's a great drink!

Fill a cocktail shaker half way with ice. Add 2 oz. gin, 1 oz. lemon juice and 1 tsp. sugar. Shake well. Strain into a Collins glass almost filled with ice. Add 3 oz. club soda. Stir and garnish with a cherry and an orange slice. Enjoy responsibly, and sophisticatedly (I'm sure that's a word) please!

The presentation here is wrong, this is not a Collins glass. A Collins glass is a tall, straight sided glass measuring 8 - 10 ounces, but we're rule breakers in the Willoughby household. We like these footed cocktail glasses so that's what we used. I promise you, they taste just as wonderful!

Happy Friday!