Collinwood Cocktails: TOM COLLINSPORT

By JONATHAN M. CHAFFIN

¾ oz. Lemon juice
1 oz. Rock candy Syrup
2 oz. Plymouth Gin
1 dropper Fiendishly Tropical Bitters
Shake, add 1oz lemon flavoured or plain seltzer, strain into Collins glass with fresh ice.
Garnish with large lemon peel.

Like much of the beloved DARK SHADOWS cast, the "Tom Collins" is an oldie but a goodie ... a cocktail for the ages.

A drink known as a "John Collins" has existed since the 1860s at the very least and is believed to have originated with a head waiter of that name who worked at Limmer's Old House in Conduit Street in Mayfair.  Limmer's Old House was a popular London hotel and coffee house around 1790–1817.  This "Mr. Collins" popped up again and again ... and was immortalized around 1876 "Bartender's Guide" under the name of Tom.

Seems only fitting to update this classic with a bit of a twist made possible by the growing craft bitters trend.  Warning: This "adult lemonade" is VERY drinkable.

Cheers!

Jonathan M. Chaffin is an Atlanta-based graphic designer and art director and a lifetime fan of horror stories and film. His current project is www.HorrorInClay.com where he uses artifacts and ephemera to tell stories...he also produces horror-themed tiki mugs and barware like the Horror In Clay Cthulhu Tiki Mug. In addition, Jonathan occasionally does voice-over and podcasting work and appears on panels at sci-fi fantasy and pop culture conventions on a variety of topics. You can follow him @CthulhuMug on twitter or by friending HorrorInClay on Facebook and G+