Tom Collins

In search of refreshment? Have a Tom Collins:

• 2 ounces gin
• 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• Soda water

Combine all except soda water in an iced cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a highball or collins glass with 2 or 3 lumps of ice. Top with soda water. Garnish with a cherry and an orange wheel.

I am on vacation this week, but since I’m addicted to work this means that I’m taking a week off to work on the farm. After spending about seven hours on a tractor, I was in search of refreshment, and nothing quite hits the spot like a Tom Collins.

The Sazerac

By special request, it’s The Sazerac:

• 1 teaspoon absinthe or pastis (Herbsaint, Pernod or Ricard)
• 1 teaspoon simple syrup
• 3 to 4 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
• 3 ounces rye whiskey (Sazerac 6 year is a fine one)

Chill an old-fashioned glass. Coat the inside of the glass with the absinthe or pastis, leaving a slight puddle in the glass bottom. Add the simple syrup and bitters. In a separate mixing glass, combine the whiskey and the simple syrup with ice and stir. Strain the contents of the mixing glass into the old-fashioned glass. Smartly twist a strip of lemon peel over the surface of the drink and discard (or toss in; I’m not here to judge). Serve.

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The Original Margarita

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, it’s The Original Margarita:

• 1.5 ounce blanco tequila
• 1.5 ounce Cointreau
• 1.5 ounce fresh lime juice

Shake in an iced cocktail shaker. Strain into a large cocktail glass, rim crusted with salt.

Since this recipe is from the appendix of Dr. Cocktail’s book, there are just recipes and almost no exposition, so I can’t add much to the history. This recipe is presented as the “original” Margarita and it is backed up by Wikipedia, which states it was invented in Mexico in October of 1941 and consisted of equal parts tequila, orange liqueur and lime, and was served with a salted rim. The idea of using sugar or salt on the rim of a cocktail glass goes all the way back to the Brandy Crusta.

The Manhattan

Presenting the King of Cocktails, The Manhattan:

• 2.5 ounces rye or bourbon
• 1.0 ounce sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Combine in an iced mixing glass. Stir, and strain into a cocktail glass, or strain into fresh rocks in a rocks glass. Either way, garnish with a cherry or a twist, or both.

Okay, some people claim that the Martini is the King of Cocktails. They would be wrong.

The cocktail was invented in America, and thus the “King” should feature American whiskey. The original cocktail: spirits, water, sugar and bitters find its peak expression in the Manhattan. The whiskey, mellow with vermouth, is sweet enough not to require sugar, the water comes from the ice and the bitters top the whole thing off.

The Singapore Sling

Another favorite of mine, The Singapore Sling:

• 2.00 ounces gin
• 0.75 ounce Cherry Heering (or other cherry-flavored brandy)
• 2 teaspoons Benedictine
• 2 teaspoons Cointreau
• 2.00 ounces pineapple juice
• 0.75 ounce fresh lime juice
• 2 dashes real pomegranate grenadine
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters
• Soda water

Combine all except soda water in an iced cocktail shaker. Shake, and strain into a highball or collins glass with a couple of lumps of ice. Top with soda water. Gernish with a cherry, a pineapple slicem, and an orange wheel.

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Last Word

One of my favorites, it’s the Last Word:

• 0.75 ounce Beefeater London Dry Gin
• 0.75 ounce Green Chartreuse
• 0.75 ounce Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
• 0.75 ounce lime juice

Shake all ingredients with ice, then strain into a coupe. No garnish.

This is one of my go-to cocktails, and I’m surprised it wasn’t included in Dr. Cocktail’s book. It is vintage, having been invented in Detroit in the 1920s, and it was forgotten for many years.

Navy Grog (The Ancient Mariner)

There may not be nary a drop of water to drink, so try The Ancient Mariner:

• 1.00 ounce Demerara rum (not the 151-proof kind)
• 1.00 ounce dark Jamaican rum (Coruba)
• 0.75 ounce fresh lime juice
• 0.50 ounce grapefruit juice
• 0.50 ounce simple syrup
• 0.25 ounce Allspice Dram

Build in a double old-fashioned glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a lime wedge and a mint sprig.

Ah, Tiki drinks. How I love ’em. And this one features Allspice Dram, the key ingredient in another favorite cocktail of mine, The Lion’s Tail.