It is my great pleasure in introducing Merlin Griffiths, Global Brand Ambassador for Bombay Sapphire Gin

He has kindly agreed to talk about one of the most iconic gin cocktails, the Tom Collins

TOM COLLINS IS NOT A HOAX

Reader Note: If you thought you didn’t like gin please skip to the recipe first, make one, and return to read.

In 1874, one man’s alleged slanderous activities caused a nationwide man-hunt. Last sighted heading for South America on a ship from Puerto Rico and being pursued by an angry mob of thousands, he slipped back into obscurity for another 135 years.

Not bad going for a gentleman, or should that be rapscallion, who didn’t even exist! This amazing tale of Tom-foolery was not only testament to the power of media to excite a nation. It gave rise to a whole new wave of gin aficionados.

In a nutshell, or is that a lemon shell, a friend of the recipient of the hoax would interrupt his reverie on a Friday evening at the local saloon with distressing news of a man called Tom Collins in the bar across the street. This Collins fellow would be in the process of dragging the reputation of the hoaxee through the mud, and he better get going and to find him and “sort him out”.

When the hoaxee arrives at the bar the bartender would tell him, “Sorry, he’s gone. I heard he went to the next bar”. And so on… Meanwhile, friends of the hoaxee would wait at the first bar having a laugh at his or her expense while the friend was seen checking every bar in town for the mysterious, ever-elusive, Tom Collins.

Pictures: Newspaper clippings from 1874, New York and Pennsylvania

Many of you reading will no doubt have heard of, or even imbibed a Tom Collins. All of you reading I believe know the most British of spirits, Gin. How does this all fit together?

Believe it or not, gin was one of the original cocktail spirits and its popularity was such that by 1930 the whole world was alive to a new wave of juniper-laced libations, many that survive to this day. Remember the dry martini cocktail? It wasn’t always vodka. And the subtle herbaceous elements of a good vermouth also played an integral part in dancing with gins botanicals.

In 1874, the time of Tom Collins, either a London Gin or a Hollands Gin would have been called for in respectable establishments in cocktails and mixed drinks and one of the more popular ways was in a Gin Punch, as made by Limmer’s sports bar of Hanover Square and Conduit Street, London.

London Gin of the time was of a sweet variety known as Old Tom. So when Tom Collins slandered half of America it was only fitting that a mixed drink arose to take his name. The Gin Punch had evolved into the Tom Collins. So much so that stalls would sell thirsty New York commuters a Collins in Grand Central station on a hot evening after work; the potion being believed to ease the stress of a long day in the hustle and bustle of the big apple.

It’s easy to understand the popularity of such a drink, the perfect balance of fresh lemon, a little sugar, soda water and of course, gin for flavour and complexity; The ultimate cocktail balance of sour, sweet, strong and weak.

So what happened? Unfortunately, with the advent of packaged and ready-made foods, the humble lemon was relegated back to the garnish tray and pre-mixes took over. It is hard not to overstate the superiority of a freshly squeezed lemon compared to any substitute, despite the instant appeal of such lemon-flavour mixes. It’s amazing to think bars ever gave up on the lemon to save all of the 3 seconds it takes to cut and squeeze half a heavenly fruit.

Nowadays, with the resurgence in classic cocktails and drinks, and with bartenders following chefs in their passion for fresh ingredients the lemon is finally back, the lemon is cool again.

The Bombay Sapphire Collins highlights the balanced taste of Bombay Sapphire created by the careful selection of botanicals. When a Collins is made with Bombay Sapphire the natural balance in the spirit complements the natural balance of elements in the cocktail.

The reason that Bombay Sapphire works so well in the Collins relates back to the balance of flavour. The citrus profile of a Collins plays on the high notes found in Gin. The fresh lemon juice brings out the high notes in Bombay Sapphire so the juniper, lemon and coriander play very well with the citrus profile of the drink.

The key difference in a Bombay Sapphire Collins is the presence of the low notes and the light pepper notes on the finish of Bombay Sapphire. These aromatic low and pepper notes give a length of finish to a Bombay Sapphire Collins that you don’t get with gins that lack those notes in their flavour profile. Best of all, it is a simple and delicious cocktail that is both quick and easy to make at home and in bar.

So, while the imaginary and legendary Tom Collins is sunning himself in Costa Rica we can raise a Bombay Sapphire Collins to a great nationwide hoax and proclaim that maybe it wasn’t after all.

The Bombay Sapphire Collins recipe

Glass Collins glass or 12oz High Ball

Ingredients
50ml Bombay Sapphire
25ml fresh lemon juice (approx ½ lemon squeezed fresh)
2 bar spoons caster sugar
50ml soda water

Method
Squeeze 25ml of lemon juice into the glass.
Add the caster sugar.
Add 50ml Bombay Sapphire.
Fill the glass with ice to keep the drink cold.
Add 50ml of soda.
Give a quick stir to incorporate all the ingredients and ensure the sugar is evenly distributed throughout the drink.
Garnish with a lemon wedge and 2 straws.

CHEERS!

Merlin Griffiths
Global Ambassador, Bombay Sapphire Gin

Enjoy Bombay Sapphire Responsibly
www.drinkaware.co.uk