Transcript: Classic Collins

Cocktails on the Fly
Episode “Classic Collins”

Alberta Straub: So I want to talk to you about one of my favorite drinks. It’s a classic Collins. This is kind of a forgotten drink. You know, you will see it today and people will have it in there liquor gun in their bars. Luckily I don’t have a liquor gun in my bar. But it’s a great drink and it’s easy to make at home. And I want to tell you how to make it.
You can make it with Gin, you can make it with Vodka, you can make it whisky. It doesn’t matter its just simple. And that’s why I like it. So you take a nice fresh lemon, use half of it, cut it in half. Squeeze half into your mixing tin, mixing glass I mean. Whoosh! There we go helps to make sound effects. Nice citrus press. And then you add about equal parts of your simple syrup. The simple syrup consists of two parts of sugar to one part liquid. One part water. So there we go match it.
I am going to make a Tom Collins. Because that’s the most classic version. So we are going to use this lovely Junipero gin. Made by Anchor Steam brewery in San Francisco. It’s got amazing botanical flavor and I really like making it with a Collins, it’s just simple. So you add about an ounce and a half of that.
And then a Collins is always served in a tall glass. So I have a tall glass here. Yay! So I am going to fill it with ice. I am going to do something that is slightly different. A classic Collins is simply fill with ice, you shake this mixture. Strain it to your glass and add some seltzer water. And you garnish with a slice of lemon and a cherry.
I like to add a little cucumber a little pizzazz to mine. Because I always liked the pizzazz! A little lemon wheel. Keep filling the glass with ice.
And then you know what I am going to do. I am going to get a little crazy and I am going to add some of this spa mix that I made earlier. This cucumber spa mix. And I am going to make what I call the Spa Collins. This is a fresh tasting cocktail. Just add a little bit to the glass. Get it ready for the mixture. And then add some ice. You want to pack your mixing glass with some ice, best you can.
Put you’re mixing tin on the top. Try not to drip all over anything like I just did. Try to be smooth, but not to smooth. Create a seal, shake, and make a funny face! (Growls) Shake vigorously, no half, not half ass, I mean half shaking. None of that. Shake vigorously, shake, shake, shake. And then knock it gently on the edge of your counter or whatever. Sometimes it will stick, just keep knocking it will come loose. And then strain into your glass. YAY, almost ready cocktail, goodie. And then you want to top it off with some seltzer water or soda. His Canadian dry it’s very yummy.
Then I like to put a little. You know you don’t have to do this but I always like to garnish. I put a little cucumber peel in there from the spa mix, the spa Collins. There you go.
Then there you have it, delightful fresh Spa drink. Yummy and I am going to drink this one because it looks super good still. Yay. Umm its delicious ok… cues!
Classic Collins
Juice half a lemon
Add equal parts Simple Syrup
2 oz Gin or vodka
Fill tall glass with ice
Add garnish
Pack mixing glass with ice
Shake
Strain into glass
Top with seltzer
Enjoy!

AS: You guys, I collect old Panasonic, um… You guys know way more. See now you feel like the drinks, the drinks are gourmet. But I collect old Panasonic electronics and I have this really great it looks like a little boom box, but it flips down and it’s a turntable and its bad ass. And I have the same thing but it’s a TV it flips up. Ok to conclude… here we go.

Ingredients:
1 lemon
Simple Syrup (two parts sugar one part liquid)
2oz gin or Vodka
Ice
Seltzer
Boston shaker