Tom Collins

Ah, my dear assemblage of bon vivants and aficionados of the genteel arts of libation, let us now turn our sophisticated palates towards a concoction that whispers of garden parties, of leisurely afternoons beneath parasols, of an era where elegance and effervescence pirouette in a glass. The Tom Collins, a potion so refreshingly genteel, it’s as if the spirit of summer itself has been invited to waltz across your taste buds.

Ingredients

• 2 oz (60 ml) gin, as refined and spirited as a debonair gentleman caller.
• 1 oz (30 ml) lemon juice, freshly squeezed, the essence of sun-kissed groves, a citrus caress.
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) simple syrup, the sweet whisper of secret admirations, a sugared sonnet.
• 3 oz (90 ml) soda water, the effervescence of laughter, the sparkle of conversation.
• Ice, the crystalline companion that cools without diminishing, the keeper of secrets.
• A cherry and an orange slice, for garnish, the final flourish, the crowning jewels of our liquid tapestry.

Directions

1. In a glass that has stood witness to countless toasts and tales, combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup over ice, as if blending the very essences of tradition and merriment.
2. Stir with the grace of a courtier, until the mixture becomes a harmonious symphony of flavors, a concord of the ages.
3. Top with soda water, a cascade of bubbles, as if summoning the very effervescence of joy itself.
4. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice, not merely as adornments, but as symbols of the bounty and beauty of life, a nod to the garniture of existence.

Tips

• The selection of gin is a journey to the soul of the drink; seek one that balances botanicals with bravado, a spirit both bold and genteel.
• Fresh lemon juice is paramount; it is the sun in our cocktail sky, the source of vibrancy and vigor.
• The dance of soda water is delicate; it should lift, not drown, awakening the drink to its fullest expression.

Calories & Alcohol

In our denouement, my cherished circle, the Tom Collins is not merely a cocktail; it is a declaration of grace, an affirmation of the joy in leisure and the art of living well.

As we gently lower the curtain on our soiree of the senses, be aware that this beacon of genteel refreshment contains approximately 184 calories, with an alcohol content that gracefully glides at about 1.5 standard drinks (2.4 AU). A small indulgence for a sip of sublime serenity.