The Best Tom Collins

I read in the New York Times that commercial sweet & sour has ruined the taste of a classic Tom Collins, and it made me curious. Sweet & sour is really nothing more than fresh lemon juice (sour) plus simple syrup (sweet), so I gave the "real" thing a try:

Fill a tall glass with ice and add 1-1/2 oz gin (see Best Basil Gin Gimlet for Bar Tip about gin). Add the juice of a lemon (no seeds, of course) and 1/2 oz of simple syrup. Fill the glass with club soda and a generous squeeze of lime. Stir and sip.

It tastes amazing! And if you use vodka instead of gin, you have a John Collins.

Bar Tip: You can easily make your own simple syrup by bringing 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar to a boil in a small heavy saucepan. Simmer on low to medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Let cool to room temperature before using. Keeps for a week in the refrigerator.

The Best Basil Gin Gimlet

I had an amazing gin gimlet the other day at Five, a new lounge in Berkeley. Julio the Bartender generously shared the secret with me:

In a shaker with ice, put 1-1/2 oz gin, 1-1/2 oz fresh lime juice and 1/2 oz simple syrup. Add 2 or 3 basil leaves that you have torn in half or thirds. Bruise, don't muddle, the leaves gently with the back of a bar spoon against the side of the shaker.

Shake briefly and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Sip and savor your tasty, frosty, refreshing drink!

Bar Tips:

• Fresh lime juice is crucial here; the plastic lime or Rose's won't do.
• There's a lot of difference in taste from one gin to another. You do have to use a good gin. There are many, but my fave is Tanqueray, which is around the mid-point of the expense continuum.

The Best Cadillac Margarita

I call the Margarita my specialty....here's how it's made:

Moisten the rim of a barrel glass with a cut lime, then dip in salt. Fill the glass with ice.

Add 1-1/2 oz tequila, 1/2 oz triple sec, 1-1/2 oz orange juice, and 1-1/2 oz sweet and sour (or substitute 1 oz fresh lemon juice and 1/2 oz simple syrup for the sweet and sour).

Stir, then float 1/2 oz Grand Marnier on the top and squeeze a wedge of lime.

Yum!

Bar Tip: Don't waste "sippin'" quality tequila on a mixed drink - save it for shots or sippin'. That said, a decent tequila is important even in a mixed drink. My fave is Zapopan Reposada, available at Trader Joe's for $9.99.