If you’re looking for inspiration for World Gin Day, what could be more appropriate than a Tom Collins made with Langley’s Old Tom. Made for the job, one might say.
Fabulous bottle, so are appearances deceptive? Absolutely not.
It’s a fabulous gin and first rate for creating an iconic Tom Collins – for you, or if you feel inclined to share, your friends too.
Langley’s England have sent Frost Magazine a recipe which, oh dear me, we felt we must – on your behalf – test.
Of course we made it using Langley’s Old Tom – a style which dates back from the 18th century England and which is sweeter with spiced undertones – the Tom Collins was first mentioned in 1876 by Jerry Thomas, the father of American mixology. It is a delicious serve that’s refreshing and really easy to make.
But first things first – what is the legend behind the name Tom Collins?
A bit like Topsy, it was a joke that grew. Said to have started in 1874 in New York, perhaps a bit like the whispers game, a man would ask a friend if they’d seen Tom Collins.
‘Who? Why?’ Was the answer.
‘He’s bad mouthing you. You’d better find him and put a stop to it.’
So a search would ensue around the bars for a Tom Collins. But Tom didn’t exist. The search for Tom Collins grew as the joke took hold and travelled widely, catching more and more people, and quick to see an opportunity, a barman eventually dreamed up a tall gin drink and when asked if he knew a Tom Collins, he would say. ‘Yep, coming up’
The searcher, knowing they’d been had, would do what any sensible person would, and down the Tom Collins and forget about everything.
So give it a go for World Gin Day, and any other day, come to that.
Have a look at how:
Ingredients
50ml Langley’s Old Tom
20ml Lemon Juice
10ml Sugar Syrup
Topped with Soda
Method
Fill Collins glass with ice.
Add 50ml of Langley’s Old Tom Gin.
Add lemon juice, and sugar syrup and soda to glass, stir.
Garnish with lemon wedge and cherry.
Langley’s have created a video here to show you how to make it:
http://langleysgin.com/cocktail-menu/collins/
Langley’s Old Tom is available nationwide at Amazon and independent retailers (£25)