Tom Collins

• 5–6 dashesGum syrup
• 1Juice of a small lemon
• 2 ozGin (Thomas doesn’t say which)60 ml
• Top withPlain soda water≈ 2 oz

How to make it

1. 1Half fill a shaker with shaved ice and add the syrup, lemon juice and gin.
2. 2Shake well and strain into a large glass.
3. 3Fill with soda water and drink it while it fizzes.

Variations: Today it is served over ice, usually with more sugar: Difford’s shakes 50 ml Old Tom gin, 20 ml lemon and 15 ml rich syrup and tops it with 50 ml soda. Made with London dry gin it is often called a John Collins.

Thomas gives a large wineglass of spirit and the juice of a small lemon; the numbers take the wineglass as 2 oz and the lemon as 1 oz. The soda isn’t measured; the numbers assume 2 oz. His recipe is written for whiskey, with brandy and gin versions; he doesn’t say which gin, and he serves it without ice.