The Best Cocktail in the World
It’s The Collins of course!
Forget Bond’s dry martini, this is the real deal, a proverbial giant amongst cocktails. Actually, that’s true because a Collins is supposed to be the tallest of all the mixed drinks and anyone who has had the misfortune to meet my father, myself, or, God forbid, my brother 
would know we are not on the short side either.
So what is a Collins cocktail? The name, as far as I can tell originates from a Victorian rhyme about a bartender in London called John Collins and the later derivative called a Tom Collins which was made with a sweet gin called Old Tom. Other spirits are sometimes used, a Jack Collins is made with apple brandy and a Mike Collins with Irish Whiskey.
What is important is that the drink is served in a Collins glass, a tall, straight glass with narrow sides (sounds like me) and should be refreshing, similar in nature to a sour.
The Perfect Recipe for a Collins
3oz Gin (good quality please or I’ll take offence)
1 Lemon juiced
3/4 tablespoon Sugar Syrup (or to taste)
Soda and Ice Cubes
Take a Collins glass, add the ingredients along with four ice cubes and top up with the soda. Stir well and think of me.
Warning: This is best taken in small quantities, like my brother and I !!
Miles,
I have a liking for gin based cocktails and this one sounds perfect…. what a thought, a vase of Collins and sparkling conversation with the Collins brothers. Sounds like a winning ticket… mind you after just one Collins (I’ll bring my own glass, a foot tall!) I’ll tell everyone how handsome they are and talk complete rubbish… in other words no diversion from the norm
Cid
January 10, 2008 @ 9:12 am
Miles
you tell me this now I’m on the wagon !
It also sounds a bit fattening
In common with the supermarkets perhaps your recipes on this site should contain calorie counts
I look forward to trying one looking out over your kitchen garden !
Rod
January 10, 2008 @ 9:14 am
Cid,
Sounds like a good plan to me!
Prost
Miles
January 10, 2008 @ 4:23 pm
Rod,
Fat chance of a calorie count with my recipes, even fatter chance of you scoring a free Collins!
Bottoms up!
Miles
January 10, 2008 @ 4:25 pm
Miles,
I will join you and the above at a ‘tasting session’ in your kitchen garden! I’ll bring the cheesy bits and you supply the snifters and the celery or whatever is growing and goes with it. We’ll bring our own ‘glasses/vases/mugs’, so no need to worry:)
Christine
January 11, 2008 @ 1:15 pm
Christine,
Sounds like a plan!
Miles
January 11, 2008 @ 3:09 pm