Food & Drink

How To Make A Tom Collins Classic Cocktail

Tom Collins Classic Cocktail. Mauro Pisano shows us how to make a Tom Collins Classic at London's Zeta Bar. This gin based cocktail was invented at the Plater's Hotel in St. Louis in the 1850's. Taste our Tom Collins Classic Cocktail. Enlarge

How To Make A Tom Collins Classic Cocktail

Tom Collins Classic Cocktail. Mauro Pisano shows us how to make a Tom Collins Classic at London's Zeta Bar. This gin based cocktail was invented at the Plater's Hotel in St. Louis in the 1850's. Taste our Tom Collins Classic Cocktail.

Step 1: You will need:

  • 1 Cocktail shaker
  • 1 Chopping board
  • 1 knife
  • 1 Cocktail strainer
  • 1 Muddle
  • 1 Tall glass
  • 1 50ml measuring thimble/shot
  • 1 bar spoon / teaspoon
  • you might also need:
  • measuring jug
  • measuring spoons

Step 2: Chop Lemon

Cut the lemon in half. Then cut one half into quarters. Leave the other half for later.

Step 3: Squeeze

Squeeze each segment as you add it to the mixing glass.

Step 4: Sugar

Then add four teaspoons of brown sugar

Step 5: Lemon juice

Finally add 10ml or 2 teaspoons of lemon juice

Step 6: Muddle

Hold your hand over the top of the glass and use the muddle to muddle the lemon wedges. Muddling is a cocktail term for crushing fresh ingredients like fruit and herbs to release their flavour.

Step 7: Gin

Add 50ml or 2floz of gin to the mix

Step 8: Ice

Fill the mixing glass with cubed ice.

Step 9: Shake

Put the top half of the shaker on and press down firmly. Hold the top and bottom and shake vigorously over your shoulder for about 20 seconds.

Step 10: HANDY HINT

When there is condensation on the outside of the shaker and it feels very cold, then it's mixed.

Step 11: Release

Tap the side of the shaker to loosen the two halves. Release the top by rocking it back and forth.

Step 12: More ice

Fill the tall glass with cubed ice

Step 13: Lemon

Cut two lemon wedges from the half lemon that you put aside earlier. Add them to the glass.

Step 14: Even more ice

Top up the glass with more ice.

Step 15: Strain

Now place the strainer on top of the cocktail shaker and strain the cocktail into your glass.

Step 16: Soda

Fill the remainder of the glass with soda.

Step 17: HANDY HINT

To make it a longer drink or for extra refreshment in the summer, Mauro recommends adding a splash of lemonade.

Step 18: Serve