Blackberry Tom Collins

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

A crisp and bubbly Blackberry Tom Collins is the perfect way to start a beautiful weekend.

There’s a theory surrounding the creation of the original version of a drink we’ll be looking at tonight, the Tom Collins. Let’s pretend for a moment that we’re not citizens of the 21st century, but rather the New York City of 1874…

It’s a day like any other, and you’re standing on the corner with friends, having a pleasant conversation. Suddenly, a random person comes running across the street, yelling to get your attention. They’re frantically telling you about a fella named Tom Collins, who is currently in the bar down the way, talking all kinds of garbage to everyone about you, insulting your good name. Well, you never. So you run to the bar and angrily demand to the bartender that Tom Collins be brought to you, front and center. The entire place erupts with laughter as the barkeep informs you that you’ve been pranked. There’s no such person as Tom Collins. After turning a deep shade of red, you turn and leave, scarred with a memory that will now constantly unlock in the middle of the night for the rest of your days.

This prank was the hottest thing going for a minute there in the 1870s. It was so popular, and annoying, that bartenders soon came up with a simple and refreshing riff on the Gin Sour by serving it on the rocks and topping it with club soda. Whenever a hapless rube would storm in and demand to see Tom Collins, this cocktail was put in front of them.

Tonight’s drink is the Blackberry Tom Collins, an easy and brilliant variation on the classic. For this mixture, we’ll start by muddling the berries, simple syrup and lemon juice together before adding the gin and shaking it all up. The result, when that first fizzy sip hits your lips, is a divine experience.

What Is The Best Gin To Use In A Blackberry Tom Collins?

I tried a few of these out with two different gins. One was with a Bombay Sapphire, a London Dry that’s very juniper-forward, but in a nice, pleasantly spicy way. The strong and balanced herbaceous notes sat nicely alongside the tart and fruity presence of the blackberries. The other was Gray Whale, a California gin infused with seaside botanicals from the Golden State, like limes, mint, sea kelp, fir trees, almonds and juniper. The result is a fresh, crisp and unique experience, giving your Blackberry Tom Collins a brighter finish.

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?

A tall collins glass filled to the top with ice will keep your Blackberry Tom Collins nice and cold. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a few fresh blackberries on top.

CAN YOU USE OTHER FRUITS OR BERRIES IN THIS RECIPE?

Of course. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries… and any fruit you like, you can experiment by simply following the recipe above. You might stumble onto something amazing.

Other Fruit-Flavored Cocktails Worth Trying

Fizzy, fruity and fresh is how I like a lot of my adult beverages. And just because there’s fruit flavor present in these, doesn’t make them any less powerful than the next drink. There’s a misconception that the sweeter the tipple, the lighter its strength is. So here’s a handful of colorful concoctions that’ll knock you out flat if you’re not careful.

• Bikini Martini – This sweet drink is said to be so strong that it’s named after the atomic bomb testing at the Bikini Atoll.
• New Orleans Hurricane – With a taste akin to fruit punch, this tall tipple will blow you down after one too many.
• Cosmopolitan – Pink and pretty, this tall and slender beverage packs quite the wallop.
• Rum Punch – Full of inviting tropical flavors, as well as two kinds of rum.