Drink

4.5cl Old Tom Gin

3.0cl Fresh lemon juice

1.5cl Gomme syrup

6.0cl Soda Water

Pour all ingredients directly into a highball filled with ice. Stir gently. Garnish with lemon slice and maraschino cherry. Add a dash of Angostura bitter.

Last November, top bartenders from around the country came together in Barcelona to create the 21st Century Tom Collins, a nod to the old classic but with the modern stamp of the international cocktail-making world. A competition was held in Bar Forum – Spain’s most important cocktail event, taking place every November in Barcelona – and the winner was the New Old Tom, helping reinstate a classic Old Tom gin, sparkling water and lemon combination:

4.5cl Hayman’s Old Tom gin

2cl lemon crushed in liquorice and rosemary

1.5cl Canadou liquid cane sugar

3.5cl Vichy Catalan sparkling water

3.5cl Fentiman’s Ginger Beer

It’s worth comparing the John Collins for yourself with the Tom Collins – just ask your favorite bartender, and travel back in time to the tastes of 1876.

This feature comes from Diego Arnold of Drinksmotion, a company offering mixology courses and bartending services for club, corporate and personal events throughout the world.