May 2010 – Page 2 – Science Of Drink

Second classic summer drink with same inhredients (alcohol, lemon juice, sugar and soda) at my blog is a Collins. Collins is a versatile cocktail. In the Collins you may use any alcohol that you prefer.

On of the first mention about Collins drink we can find at Bartender’s Guide by Jerry “Professor” Thomas (1876).

Collinses and Fizzes has some distinctions. Fizzes must be hard shaken but Collins may be shaken and no so hard. Fizzes are served in special delmonico glass without garnish but Collinses are served in collins (what else?) and garnish with red maraschino cherry and piece of orange. Actualy both cocktails are served in collinses or highballs at present time. The difference depicted on this foto:

First glass close on delmonico. The collins glass is cylindrical in shape and narrower than a highball glass. The highball glass is shorter and wider than a collins glass.

But return to our drink. First Collins I prepare in classic version with London dry gin – the Tom Collins.

Tom Collins

45 ml gin
20 ml fresh lemon juice
20 ml simple syrup
up to 90 ml soda water
Shake (except soda) with ice. Strain in to tallest collins as you have and add some large ice-cubes. Top with soda. Garnish with red maraschino cherry and orange slice.

You may use another proportion for yours Collins. You may use sugar powder or castor sugar instead simple syrup. You may build your collins, but I recommend shake.

The Tom Collins is a brilliant cocktail. Simple but elegant cocktail has smooth and compose taste of gin botanicals with sournes of lemon. Very refreshing and very delicious.

I prepare the John Collins with bourbon also. I use Jim Beam Black for this cocktail.

John Collins

45 ml bourbon
20 ml fresh lemon juice
20 ml simple syrup
up to 90 ml soda water
Shake (except soda) with ice. Strain in to tallest collins as you have and add some large ice-cubes. Top with soda. Garnish with red maraschino cherry and orange slice.

The John Collins is great drink too. It has smooth and refreshing taste with pleasant palate of whiskey.

I decide to explore two cassic sours – the fizz and the collins now. I do not prepare this cocktails before and this is my first experience.

The fizz is realy very old mixed drink from strong alcohol (preferable gin), lemon juice, sugar and carbonated (or aerated) water. The fizz must be shaken. This drink should serve in the special delmonico glass.

Gin Fizz

45 ml gin
20 ml fresh lemon juice
20 ml simple syrup
up to 60 ml soda water
Shake thoroughly all ingredients (except soda) with a lot of ice. Strain in to delmonico glass (or another tumbler) filled with ice-cubes. Fill with soda. No garnish.

The amount of all ingredients may be vary.

Actually, properly made Gin Fizz is fantastic drink! The Gin Fizz has light smooth and very refreshing taste of gin’s botanicals and sweet and sour citrus taste.

You may use flavoured gin for this drink. For example you can prepare Orange Gin Fizz.

Orange Gin Fizz

45 ml orange gin
20 ml fresh lemon juice
20 ml simple syrup
soda water
Shake thoroughly all ingredients (except soda) with a lot of ice. Strain in to delmonico glass (or another tumbler) filled with ice-cubes. Fill with soda. No garnish.

I use Seagram’s Orange Gin for this drink. The Orange Gin Fizz has bright citrus and very refreshing taste. It is great drink.

You may use in yours fizzes some liqueur also. Some times ago I posted about Fraises Fizz, one of my favorite summer cocktail. Now I prepare the Watermelon Gin Fizz with watermelon liqueur.

Watermelon Gin Fizz

45 ml gin
20 ml fresh lemon juice
20 ml watermelon liqueur
15 ml simple syrup
soda water
Shake thoroughly all ingredients (except soda) with a lot of ice. Strain in to delmonico glass (or another tumbler) filled with ice-cubes. Fill with soda. No garnish.

Watermelon Gin Fizz is very pleasant refreshing drink with light and fancy taste of ripe watermelon. If you use liqueur by MB you obtain almost clear drink.