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Tom Collins is one of the most popular cocktails in the world, a refreshing combination of gin, lemon juice, sugar, and soda water that dates back to the 19th century. While the original recipe called for Old Tom gin, which is slightly sweeter and less juniper-forward than London Dry gin, today most bartenders and home mixologists use the latter because of its wider availability and versatility.
However, not all London Dry gins are created equal, and one factor that can significantly affect the flavor of a Tom Collins is the type of mixer used. In this blog post, we’ll explore the main categories of mixers that can enhance, complement, or overpower the aroma and taste of gin in a classic Tom Collins, and recommend some specific brands and recipes that work well.
I. Overview: Gin and Tom Collins
Before we dive into the mixers, let’s briefly review what makes gin, and a Tom Collins, special:
– Gin: Gin is a distilled spirit that derives its flavor primarily from juniper berries, but can also include other botanicals such as coriander, citrus peel, angelica root, orris root, and cinnamon. The history of gin goes back at least to the Middle Ages, but the modern form of gin that we know today as London Dry gin originated in the 18th century in London, where it became wildly popular thanks to the invention of the column still and the expansion of the British Empire. Today, gin is made in many countries around the world, and comes in different styles and strengths, but London Dry gin is arguably the most iconic and versatile, used not only in gin and tonics or martinis, but also in cocktails such as the Negroni, the Aviation, or the Bramble.
– Tom Collins: The Tom Collins cocktail is said to have been invented in the 1870s or 1880s, and is named after a practical joke that involved asking someone to look for a fictional person named Tom Collins who was spreading rumors about them. The cocktail itself is a simple but elegant blend of gin, lemon juice, sugar, and soda water, usually served in a tall glass over ice and garnished with a lemon wheel and a cherry. The proportions and variations of these ingredients can vary depending on personal taste and local preferences, but the basic formula remains: gin + sour + sweet + fizz.
Now, let’s move on to the mixers that can make a Tom Collins sing or flop.
II. Mixers that enhance the gin in a Tom Collins
Some mixers can bring out the best in gin’s botanicals and create a synergy between the flavors that is greater than the sum of its parts. These mixers are often delicate, nuanced, and slightly sweet, to balance the acidity of the lemon juice and the dryness of the gin. Here are some examples:
1. Elderflower cordial: Elderflower is an aromatic flower that grows on shrubs in Europe and parts of Asia, and has a subtle floral and fruity taste that pairs well with gin. Elderflower cordial is a syrup made from elderflower extract, sugar, and water, that can be diluted with soda water or sparkling wine to make a refreshing and fragrant drink. In a Tom Collins, elderflower cordial can add a floral and herbal note to the gin, and soften the lemon juice without adding too much sweetness.
Recommended brands: Bottlegreen, Belvoir, Fever-Tree.
Recipe: Elder Collins
– 50 ml London Dry gin
– 25 ml fresh lemon juice
– 20 ml elderflower cordial
– Soda water
– Lemon wheel, for garnish
Instructions: Fill a Collins glass with ice. Add the gin, lemon juice, and elderflower cordial, and stir briefly. Top up with soda water and stir again. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
2. Grapefruit juice: Grapefruit is a citrus fruit that has a tangy and slightly bitter taste, but also a refreshing and uplifting aroma. In a Tom Collins, grapefruit juice can complement the piney and zesty notes of the gin and the lemon, and add a natural sweetness that is less cloying than simple syrup or sugar. It can also make the drink more visually appealing, giving it a blush of pink or red depending on the type of grapefruit used.
Recommended brands: Freshly squeezed (!), Capi, Nudie.
Recipe: Ruby Collins
– 50 ml London Dry gin
– 30 ml fresh grapefruit juice
– 20 ml fresh lemon juice
– Soda water
– Grapefruit wedge, for garnish
Instructions: Fill a Collins glass with ice. Add the gin, grapefruit juice, and lemon juice, and stir briefly. Top up with soda water and stir again. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
3. Cucumber water: Cucumber is a vegetable that has a high water content, a mild flavor, and a crisp texture that can be refreshing on a hot day. Cucumber water is made by infusing sliced cucumber in water, and can be a healthy and low-calorie alternative to soda water or tonic water. In a Tom Collins, cucumber water can enhance the freshness and coolness of the drink, and tone down the sharpness of the citrus and the alcohol.
Recommended brands: Homemade, or use a ratio of 2:1 water to sliced cucumber.
Recipe: Cucumber Collins
– 50 ml London Dry gin
– 25 ml fresh lemon juice
– 20 ml simple syrup
– Cucumber water
– Cucumber slice, for garnish
Instructions: Fill a Collins glass with ice. Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup, and stir briefly. Top up with cucumber water and stir again. Garnish with a cucumber slice.
III. Mixers that complement the gin in a Tom Collins
Other mixers can add a contrasting or complementary flavor to the gin in a Tom Collins, without overwhelming it or clashing with it. These mixers are often slightly sour, bitter, or spicy, and can highlight a particular botanical or sensation in the gin. Here are some examples:
1. Campari: Campari is an Italian bitter liqueur that is made with a secret recipe of herbs, spices, and fruits, including chinotto, cascarilla, rhubarb, and orange peel. It has a bright red color, a bitter and sweet taste, and a complex and stimulating aroma that can be an acquired taste. In a Tom Collins, Campari can add a fruity and bitter note that offsets the sweetness of the sugar and the sourness of the lemon, and balances the juniper and citrus flavors of the gin.
Recommended brands: Campari (duh).
Recipe: Campari Collins
– 50 ml London Dry gin
– 25 ml fresh lemon juice
– 15 ml simple syrup
– 15 ml Campari
– Soda water
– Orange slice, for garnish
Instructions: Fill a Collins glass with ice. Add the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and Campari, and stir briefly. Top up with soda water and stir again. Garnish with an orange slice.
2. Green tea: Green tea is a type of tea that is made from the Camellia sinensis plant, but is not fermented or oxidized like other types of tea. It has a grassy, vegetal, and slightly astringent taste, and is rich in antioxidants and caffeine. In a Tom Collins, green tea can add a subtle and refreshing bitterness that complements the gin’s juniper and citrus notes, and also helps to boost the drink’s health benefits.
Recommended brands: Use brewed and chilled green tea, or use a green tea syrup (recipe below).
Recipe: Green Collins
– 50 ml London Dry gin
– 25 ml fresh lemon juice
– 20 ml green tea syrup
– Soda water
– Mint sprig, for garnish
Instructions: Fill a Collins glass with ice. Add the gin, lemon juice, and green tea syrup, and stir briefly. Top up with soda water and stir again. Garnish with a mint sprig.
Green tea syrup: Steep 2 green tea bags in 1 cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Remove the bags and add 1 cup of sugar, stirring until dissolved. Cool and store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
3. Ginger beer: Ginger beer is a carbonated soft drink that is flavored with ginger, lemon, sugar, and spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and clove. It has a spicy and sweet taste, and can be refreshing or warming depending on how much ginger is used. In a Tom Collins, ginger beer can add a zingy and warming kick that complements the gin’s piney and spicy notes, and makes the drink more robust and flavorful.
Recommended brands: Fever-Tree, Bundaberg, Fentimans.
Recipe: Ginger Collins
– 50 ml London Dry gin
– 25 ml fresh lemon juice
– 15 ml simple syrup
– Ginger beer
– Candied ginger, for garnish
Instructions: Fill a Collins glass with ice. Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup, and stir briefly. Top up with ginger beer and stir again. Garnish with a piece of candied ginger.
IV. Mixers that overpower the gin in a Tom Collins
Lastly, some mixers can overshadow the gin and make it hard to detect or enjoy its unique characteristics in a Tom Collins. These mixers are often too sweet, too sour, or too strong, and can mask or clash with the botanicals in the gin. Here are some examples:
1. Lemonade: Lemonade is a sweet and sour drink that is made with lemon juice, sugar, and water, and is often highly concentrated and artificial. In a Tom Collins, lemonade can overpower the gin and make the overall flavor too sweet, too sour, or too citrusy. It can also lack the complexity and freshness of fresh lemon juice, which is a key ingredient in the original recipe and should not be substituted lightly.
Recommended brands: Don’t use any bottled lemonades, make your own!
Recipe: Classic Collins
– 50 ml London Dry gin
– 25 ml fresh lemon juice
– 15 ml simple syrup
– Soda water
– Lemon wheel, for garnish
Instructions: Fill a Collins glass with ice. Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup, and stir briefly. Top up with soda water and stir again. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
2. Fruit syrups: Fruit syrups are flavored syrups that are made with fruit puree, sugar, and sometimes additional spices or herbs. They are often used in non-alcoholic cocktails or desserts, but can also be added to alcoholic drinks to create a fruity and sweet taste. In a Tom Collins, fruit syrups can overpower the gin and make the overall flavor too one-dimensional or artificial. They can also clash with the botanicals in the gin and create an unbalanced or cloying taste.
Recommended brands: Avoid any artificially flavored fruit syrups, make your own with fresh fruit!
Recipe: Fresh Fruit Collins
– 50 ml London Dry gin
– 30 ml fresh fruit puree (e.g. raspberry, blackberry, peach)
– 25 ml fresh lemon juice
– Soda water
– Mint sprig, for garnish
Instructions: Fill a Collins glass with ice. Add the gin, fruit puree, and lemon juice, and stir briefly. Top up with soda water and stir again. Garnish with a mint sprig.
3. Tonic water: Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink that is flavored with quinine, a bitter compound that is extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree, and has a distinctive and slightly medicinal taste. Tonic water is often used as a mixer for gin, especially in the classic Gin and Tonic, where it can enhance the juniper and citrus notes of the gin and create a dry and refreshing taste. However, in a Tom Collins, tonic water can be too bitter and too overpowering, and can mask the delicate flavors of the gin and lemon. It can also create a flat and unpleasant taste if the tonic water is not fresh or high quality.
Recommended brands: Don’t use any tonic waters that have artificial sweeteners, quinine flavoring, or excessive carbonation.
Recipe: Dry Collins
– 50 ml London Dry gin
– 25 ml fresh lemon juice
– 15 ml simple syrup
– Tonic water
– Rosemary sprig, for garnish
Instructions: Fill a Collins glass with ice. Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup, and stir briefly. Top up with tonic water and stir again. Garnish with a rosemary sprig.
V. Conclusion: Choose your mixer wisely
In conclusion, the choice of mixer can make a big difference in the flavor of a classic Tom Collins, and can either enhance or detract from the unique and complex characteristics of gin. While there are many creative and tasty variations of Tom Collins, like the ones we’ve suggested in this blog post, it’s important to respect the balance and harmony of the original recipe, and not to overpower or mask the gin’s botanicals with too much sweetness, sourness, or bitterness.
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