We're in the midst of the infamous Dog Days of summer, and the livin' is hot.
It's not the best time of year to down too many icy martinis, or even perfect Manhattans, so here are a few solutions to ease you through until the leaves begin to fall—the Highball and the Tom Collins.
These are fairly generic recipes, and they'll work with any high quality spirit—use your favorite, whether gin, whiskey, whisky, brandy, or rum.
Highballs are nothing more than a combination of your chosen liquor, ice, soda water or ginger ale, and a twist of lemon peel, if you'd like. The proportions follow:
Use a medium glass—put the ice in first, then pour the spirits over that. Fill with soda water or ginger ale, and garnish.
That's all...a simple drink, and one not quite so likely to sneak up on you in the middle of the evening! You can make it stronger or weaker, of course, to suit your own tastes.
Collins drinks change their names now and again, if the spirit changes from gin to something else, but the simplest way to designate them to a bartender these days is to say, "I'd like a whiskey Collins, please"....of course, that's not so far from a whiskey sour, so suit yourself when ordering...just go armed with the recipe!
Shake well and strain into a long glass over a cube or two of ice, and fill with soda water. There's an optional modern garnish of an orange slice, skewered to a maraschino cherry, but unless you're looking for an appetizer, why bother?
Prepare a pitcher of Collins mix without the soda, and keep it handy for your next summer get-together. Your guests can top off each portion poured with soda, while you can relax with your own drink.
