Orange Collins

An interesting fact when contemplating the use of Genever: In 1862 a celebrity bartender by the name of Jerry Thomas produced the world’s first cocktail and bartending book titled “The Bar-tenders Guide or How To Mix Drinks”. In there appeared recipes based around four basic cocktail spirits being brandy, rum, whisky and not surprisingly, Genever the predecessor of London Dry Gin.

Below is a cocktail recipe replicating an original version of the ‘Orange Collins’, a classic in the era of Jerry Thomas. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 75ml Oude Genever
• 15 ml Dry Orange Curacao Liquor
• 15ml Bitter Orange Simple Syrup
• 30ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 dashes Orange Bitters
• ice
• Olinda Sparkling water
• Orange Wedge

Instructions

1. Add 3-4 blocks of ice with all liquid ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
2. Close the shaker and shake for 10 seconds.
3. Pour the contents of the shaker into a Collins glass along with the ice
4. Squeeze an orange wedge over the glass and drop it into the drink.
5. Top up with sparkling water.
6. Serve with a long straw.