{"id":17589,"date":"2015-02-15T12:07:01","date_gmt":"2015-02-15T20:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/?p=17589"},"modified":"2022-08-16T13:43:19","modified_gmt":"2022-08-16T20:43:19","slug":"bombay-sapphire-blackberry-and-meyer-lemon-tom-collins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/bombay-sapphire-blackberry-and-meyer-lemon-tom-collins\/","title":{"rendered":"Bombay Sapphire Blackberry and Meyer Lemon Tom Collins"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Bombay<\/p>\n

The Tom Collins cocktail is the definitive refreshing drink and, for my money, the original “Skinny” cocktail before skinny became an obsession – I say that because gin, at 97 calories per 1-1\/2 ounces is lower in calories than beer and wine, and the sparkling water used to top off a Tom Collins has zero calories. A touch of sugar and juice of lemon add brightness and sweet and sour notes that dance on the palate.<\/p>\n

Jump to Recipe<\/a><\/p>\n

Classic Tom Collins Cocktail<\/h2>\n

Tom Collins is a long refreshing cocktail with a basic recipe that has led to many great drinks. \u00a0It\u2019s essentially a gin sour that\u2019s been lengthened with soda water to make it a tall, refreshing drink. You can see the Tom Collins influence in a Cuba Libre (coke, rum, and lime), the Dark and Stormy (rum and ginger ale) or even the mojito (muddled mint, sugar, lime, rum, and soda) – almost like a rum Tom Collins with mint.<\/p>\n

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Factor in its intriguing history – gin is the oldest spirit and has had a history of being used “for medicinal purposes”, and you have the world’s most interesting spirit. The Royal Navy mixed gin with lime cordial to stop scurvy, and angostura settled the stomach at sea. Tonic water with quinine was anti-malarial, giving them a great excuse to drink more gin and tonics.<\/p>\n

The Tom Collins itself has an interesting backstory. It takes its name from the\u00a0Great Tom Collins Hoax of 1874<\/a>\u00a0and is a true classic. Brilliantly refreshing, this drink works perfectly with\u00a0Bombay Sapphire<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Bombay Sapphire Distillery<\/h2>\n

Speaking of Bombay Sapphire, their distillery in Hampshire, England is at the top of my travel list (next time I find myself in London) especially now that the grounds of historical Laverstoke Mill<\/a> boast a series of breathtaking Thomas Heatherwick glasshouses where the botanicals for their famous gin are grown.<\/p>\n

\"Thomas<\/p>\n

The botanical glasshouses, designed by Thomas Heatherwick and Heatherwick Studios, taking center stage at Laverstoke Mill.<\/p>\n

History of Gin<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Even though Holland made gin first, gin is England\u2019s national spirit<\/strong> and there are few things more English than a refreshing G & T (gin & tonic). Most of the well known gins you see around the world hail from the UK, so it is forgivable to think that the spirit first came from Britain. The English actually discovered gin when they were fighting the Thirty Years\u2019 War in the 17th<\/sup> century in Holland and saw Dutch soldiers drinking Jenever to boost morale before heading into battle. The term “Dutch Courage” was born, and the English brought the idea of making and drinking gin back with them. It would take another 150 years before they would have their own version. {Source: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Gin<\/a>, by Simon Ford}<\/p>\n

From its earliest origins in the Middle Ages – in 1269, the first major mention of juniper-based health-related tonics appeared in a Dutch publication; gin has evolved from a herbal medicine<\/strong> to the most popular spirit for cocktails – yes, way before vodka. In fact, a martini means gin, dry vermouth and optional bitters; vodka didn’t become popular until the era of the three martini lunch when Smirnoff released a very clever campaign, \u201cVodka leaves you breathless,\u201d which, combined with the iconic phrase “shaken not stirred” uttered by the ultra-cool James Bond, helped to hijack gin\u2019s place in the iconic cocktail.<\/p>\n

Gin is meant to be mixed<\/strong> as the botanicals (juniper berries being the predominant flavor, plus herbs, spices etc.) come to life in cocktails and add complexity to the drink. This is why so many classic cocktails call for gin. You can drink tequila and mezcal as shots, and vodka is served chilled with food (zakuski) in its native land. Bourbon, rye and whiskey drinkers might add some ice or a splash of water.<\/p>\n

There are more classic cocktails made with gin than with any other spirit:\u00a0<\/strong>Negroni, Ramos Gin Fizz, Martinez, Gin Rickey, Red Snapper, Tom Collins, White Lady, Hanky Panky, Clover Club, Alexander, French 75, Gimlet, Vesper, Singapore Sling, Silver Bronx, Pegu Club, Bee\u2019s Knees, and the Southside, among others!<\/p>\n

\"Bombay<\/p>\n

Darn, that ice melted quickly – I just ordered these Acrylic Ice Cubes<\/a> so I won’t have that problem any more!<\/p>\n

If you’re traveling to London, plan an excursion to the Bombay Sapphire distillery at Laverstoke Mill in nearby Hampshire. See how modern redevelopment, informed by a commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility, preserved the natural beauty and heritage of a site whose history goes back to 903 AD.<\/p>\n

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Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Laverstoke Mill in Hampshire, England<\/p>\n

“On weekdays between October 1st and March 31st the distillery runs hosted experiences at Laverstoke Mill<\/a>. Explore the Bombay Sapphire Distillery with one of our distillery hosts who will be on hand to answer any questions and guide you through the site. Discover the ten exotic botanicals infused into every drop of Bombay Sapphire Gin in the Glasshouses with an insight into Thomas Heatherwick\u2019s inspired design. Our host and resident Gin Expert will then help you uncover the Botanical Dry Room, a real sensory experience to uncover your preferred flavour palate. You\u2019ll go behind the scenes of the unique Vapour Infusion distillation process in the Dakin Still House before your host leaves you to enjoy a drink ‘on the house’ in the Mill Bar<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

\"Bombay<\/p>\n