Strawberry Lime Tom Collins
Contributed by on Jun 05, 2015
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When it’s nice outside, there are few finer ways to spend the day than grilling food with friends. As Memorial Day is behind us now and it’s the “official kickoff to grilling” (or something like that), it seems that most people agree with my sentiment. One good way to improve that scenario? With a cocktail. And as we’re working on the notion that you’re having friends over (or going to their house and bringing along a cocktail, as good guests do), one that scales up and is enjoyable by everyone (over the legal drinking age in your country, city or locale!) is in order. With that in mind, allow me to introduce to you the Strawberry Lime Tom Collins!
Fresh, in season strawberries are a go! No, seriously, go hunt them down. If you can get to a farmer’s market, that’ll be your best bet for the freshest and tastiest. However, if you can’t, or there isn’t one on your area, get some at the store — it’s far from the end of the world.
Small side note, cherry limeade anyone? If I dial back the memory servers to high school, I remember my friend Amanda being a huge fan of the ones from Sonic. This is like that. Only with strawberries. And gin. So I guess not like that at all. Anyway, back to our story!
As I was saying, fresh strawberries — then you’re going to need some fresh lime juice — accept no substitutes! Honestly, even if you’re not trying to impress your guests (yeah, I juiced those myself!), then do it for yourself. You deserve it.
Now that the tricky bits are behind you, it’s a matter of smashing them all together, adding a touch of sugar (I like to think of it as the salt of the sweet world, it makes fruits extra fruity), some gin and club soda.
If you’re morally opposed to gin, but desperately want fresh strawberries in your cocktail and still need a little cool, outdoor action, awesome, drink a Strawberry Mexican Mojito.
However, if you appreciate gin, then look no further for your grilling needs, your party cocktail has arrived. (As you’ve noticed, I continually refer to grilling, not barbecuing. That’s because to barbecue is to go low and slow, not quick, fast heat. It’s a semantic difference, but I’m a fan of both and know the difference.)
Now, onto the Strawberry Lime Tom Collins!
- 4 strawberries
- ½ oz. fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 2 oz. gin
- 1 strawberry
- Club Soda
- Glass type: Collins
- Plop your strawberries into your cocktail shaker.
- Muddle with sugar.
- Add lime juice, gin and ice.
- Shake like a Polaroid.
- Finish, smile knowing what’s coming.
- Pour into your Collins glass.
- Those broken ice cubes are gonna look cool.
- Add a bit more ice for extra chilling.
- Top with club soda.
- Garnish with extra strawberry.
- Sip and enjoy while grilling.
