Whiskey Collins
A fresh, tart long drink of bourbon, lemon and soda: summer in a glass, whatever the season.
Ingredients
- Bourbon50 ml
- Lemon juice, freshly squeezed lemon juice25 ml
- Simple syrup (1 part Sugar, 1 part Water)15 ml
- Soda water, cold and freshly opened, for full fizztop up
- Lemon, to garnish (optional)1 wheel
- Cocktail cherry, to garnish, ideally brandied (optional)1 whole
Method
- Fill a highball or Collins glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the bourbon, lemon juice and syrup into a shaker with ice and shake hard for 10–15 seconds, until cold and frosted.
- Strain into the ice-filled glass.
- Top up with soda water and give it a quick turn with the bar spoon.
- Garnish with a lemon slice or ribbon and, if you like, a cocktail cherry.
About this drink
The Whiskey Collins is whiskey's answer to the classic Tom Collins, whose gin version goes back to the bars of 19th-century London. Swap the gin for bourbon or rye and you get a rounder, sweeter character that still balances sour, sweet and fizz. The drink became especially popular in the United States, where bourbon was always close to hand behind the bar.
