Gin · 3 minutes · makes 1

Tom Collins

Name: Tom Collins
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1 drink
Ingredients: 2 oz (60 ml) Gin; 3/4 oz (22.5 ml) Fresh lemon juice; 3/4 oz (22.5 ml) Simple syrup (1:1) (equal parts sugar and water, or the bottled syrup in the mixer aisle); 3 oz (90 ml) Club soda

Gin, lemon, simple syrup, and soda in a tall glass. A grocery-store cooler for a warm night after the kids are asleep.

Glass: Highball glass
Tools: Cocktail shaker (or a jar with a tight lid), Jigger, Strainer
Garnish: Lemon wheel

Ingredients

2 oz (60 ml) Gin
3/4 oz (22.5 ml) Fresh lemon juice
3/4 oz (22.5 ml) Simple syrup (1:1) (equal parts sugar and water, or the bottled syrup in the mixer aisle)
3 oz (90 ml) Club soda

Steps

Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
Shake for about 10 seconds.
Strain into a tall glass over fresh ice.
Top with club soda and add a lemon wheel.

Simple syrup is sugar and water in equal parts, stirred until it looks clear. The bottled kind next to the grenadine is fine if you don't want a saucepan after bedtime.

Make it a mocktail: Lemon Collins

Skip the gin. Shake 1 oz (30 ml) lemon juice and 3/4 oz (22.5 ml) simple syrup with ice, strain over fresh ice, and top with 4 oz (120 ml) club soda.

Batch for two

For two: 4 oz (120 ml) gin, 1 1/2 oz (45 ml) lemon, 1 1/2 oz (45 ml) syrup. Shake in two rounds and top each glass with about 3 oz (90 ml) club soda.

Pair it with an at-home date

Olive & Sinclair chocolate tasting

A tall, tart Collins keeps the chocolate tasting from turning into dessert only. One glass each, then the bars.

Blind-taste four stone-ground bars, score them, argue about the winner. Approx. ~$42 for a 4-bar variety pack. Where to get it →

Get next Friday's drink

One email a week: a date for after bedtime, and a cocktail you can shop for at the grocery store.