Retro Cocktail Recipe: The Tom Collins

10 comments

Wednesday March 21, 2012

The new season of Mad Men is upon us and with that in mind, I'm feeling particularly retro and I thought it was high time, I tried out a fancy, old school style cocktail! I'm channelling my inner Betty Draper for this drink and trying out a little something different. It's a bit more complicated than other cocktails (this ain't your regular old rum n' coke ladies) but it's not difficult and once you finish the cocktail you'll be able to host your very own dinner party and impress all your friends!

Here's what you'll need:

Sugar and Water
Soda Water
1 Shot of Lemon or Lemon Juice
2 Shots of Gin
Cocktail Shaker

Step 1: Make a simple syrup

Making a simple syrup is just that- simple. I thought it would be good to show you all the steps so you can use this as a reference to any other recipe or cocktail that calls for you to make one. To make a simple syrup, you use 2 parts sugar to 1 part water. Boil the water and once it's bubbling, pour in the sugar.

Stir constantly until all the sugar is dissolved. Once dissolved, remove the pan from heat, you shouldn't boil the mixture again. Stir the mixture, cool and let thicken.

Step 2: Lemon Juice

Squeeze out 1 ounce, or one shot of lemon juice and pour into a cocktail shaker, over ice. I use freshly squeezed lemon, but if you wanted to cheat and use bottled lemon juice it'll be our little secret!

Step 3: Gin and Syrup

Pour in the 2 shots of gin with the lemon juice. I found my drink a bit too sour for my taste so I suggest using up to about half a shot of simple syrup. You may need to play around with the proportions for your own taste (I've got a sweet tooth!).

Step 4: Shake and Soda

Shake the cocktail shaker, pour the mixture into a glass and top off with soda water.

Final Product

Garnish your glass with a lemon wedge and you've got yourself a fine lookin' cocktail there chicks!

Are you a retro cocktail fan or maybe a Mad Men fan? Leave a comment and let me know what your fave cocktail is!

10 Comments

	on Mar 25, 2012 MaryGorgeous 1,337 said: I hope that with mad men's popularity that bar tenders get to know this drink! I have often ordered it and they didn't know what it was! Shame!
	on Mar 23, 2012 GoneBatty 2,861 said: I have been looking for a yummy cocktail to serve in my pretty new pink frosted cocktail glasses. This looks like a winner!
	on Mar 22, 2012 Aliza 14,097 said: Sounds yummy! Never tried it.
	on Mar 22, 2012 LadyFlash 5,308 said: I'm not a fan of Gin but I love Tom Collins drink. It's a classic and I love it with a bit of raspberry puree or juice added to it.
	on Mar 21, 2012 frose 898 said: I like that you put pictures that way is easier to us to make as well!
	on Mar 21, 2012 staceb 1,124 said: I don't drink but it puts me in the mood for Summer and Lemonade.
	on Mar 21, 2012 annmarie 4,020 said: Yummmmy, I'm so thirsty now! LOL
	on Mar 21, 2012 shuey 2,655 said: lmao~ seriously, my mouth was watering as I was reading this and then I saw your comment Takoda. Do you know me or what...lol Looks like I have a new drink to try thins weekend~can't wait. :)
	on Mar 21, 2012 LadyChick234234 3,651 said: Awesome for a patio.
	on Mar 21, 2012 takoda 23,083 said: I've never tried one of these and I don't think I'd like it, but I just might know someone who would like this, shuey.LOL It sure looks easy enough to make, but it also seems like a lot of work if you were making a lot of them for party guests.