The Holiday Collins Is the Twist on a Classic Your Holiday Deserves

You’ve probably heard of the Tom Collins, but what about the Holiday Collins? The Tom Collins, of course, belongs to the pantheon of classic cocktails. The refreshing drink — a bubbly, hard lemonade-like libation that marries lemon juice, sugar, soda water, and gin — is famously light and breezy. The Holiday Collins is much the same, but with a tempting twist: The addition of aromatic bitters, which packs Yuletide notes of black pepper, cinnamon bark, and other warming spices.

Cocktail Courier’s Holiday Collins kit has everything you need to whip up this festive reimagining of the classic gin cocktail. Cane sugar-based simple syrup joins tangy lemon juice, a few dashes of Scrappy’s Aromatic Bitters, and — most importantly — BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin, which lends floral aromatics and notes of citrus and juniper. They’re all gently stirred together in an ice-filled glass, then topped off with bubbly club soda. A simple garnish of thinly-sliced wheels of dehydrated lemon completes the drink.

The Holiday Collins Kit

The Holiday Collins cocktail kit includes BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin, simple syrup, club soda, Scrappy’s Aromatic Bitters, lemon, and dehydrated lemon wheels.

• Cocktail Courier

A little Tom Collins trivia: Its first official appearance in print dates to 1876, when it appeared in bartender Jerry Thomas’ seminal work, The Bar-Tender’s Guide. “A new beverage is the pride of the Bartender,” Thomas wrote, “and its appreciation and adoption his crowning glory.”

The drink also inspired its own signature glassware, the Collins glass — but the Cocktail Courier’s Holiday Collins classic-sized kit comes with two balloon glasses which feel even more festive. Inspired by the Basque Copa de Balon glass, balloon glasses are the preferred vessel for gin; the rounded shape of the glass helps the spirit’s botanical notes take full bloom on the drinker’s palate.

Order the kit in the classic size to serve a (socially distanced) gathering of eight. For a more intimate occasion, go for the mini size, which is perfect to share with a friend. What to serve alongside the Holiday Collins? Since the drink is so refreshing, go for dishes with salty, briny notes. We dig it served alongside a slow-roasted salmon filet with slivers of blood orange and grapefruit. Also great? A next-level charcuterie board piled high with blue cheese, Brie, and hunks of country-style pate spiked with juniper berries. And of course, you can never go wrong with an herb-crusted beef tenderloin, cooked to a perfect medium-rare, served alongside a tangy dipping sauce cut with horseradish and sour cream.

Ready to mix up the perfect Holiday Collins? Grab your kit and follow along below. And for even more tips on mixing up the perfect holiday cocktail, RSVP now for our Holiday Happy Hour Cocktail Class — December 10th at 6pm ET. At this exclusive virtual mixology class, you’ll learn how to make three great festive cocktails for holiday entertaining at home. Cheers!

Ingredients (Serves 1):

• 1.5 oz BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin
• 0.75 oz Lemon juice
• 0.75 oz Simple syrup
• 2oz Club soda
• 1-3 dashes Scrappy’s Aromatic Bitters depending on your preference
• Garnish: dehydrated lemon wheel

Shake all of the ingredients together and pour into your favorite Collins or balloon glass with fresh ice. Top with 2 oz Club Soda.