A collins cocktail is defined by sourness from citrus and effervescence from carbonated water. There are many iterations out there, with playful names from the well-known Tom Collins (made with Old Tom gin or London dry gin) to Mike Collins (splashed with Irish whiskey), Jack Collins (Calvados), or Joe Collins (vodka).
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This recipe was inspired by the cucumber collins featured in our Editor in Chief Toni Tipton-Martin’s book Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice (2023). Her version is made by muddling cucumbers to release their flavorful juices; adding plenty of lemon juice, some elderflower liqueur, and herbal gin; and finishing with lemon-flavored sparkling water. It’s a delicate balance of light and floral.
Our Editor in Chief Toni Tipton-Martin introduced this drink to our team, but she was inspired by another source: Melba Wilson. In Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice (2023), Tipton-Martin writes, “I could not resist fidgeting with the Cucumber Splash in Melba’s American Comfort so as to up my collins game. Melba Wilson is owner of the iconic Harlem restaurant Melba’s and is the creator of a fried chicken recipe that won Bobby Flay’s Throwdown! competition on his Food Network television program.
In her book, Melba calls to muddle a thick slice of cucumber in the bottom of a cocktail shaker, then add Hendrick’s gin, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice. The elderflower’s floral undertones take the place of sugar or simple syrup; it’s a perfect foil for the aromatic gin, which is infused with rose and cucumber . . . For my version, I upped the gin, lemon, and soda for more punch and a more refreshing effervescence.”
While Tipton-Martin’s recipe calls for shaking one cocktail, we wanted to make a larger amount suitable for a soiree. Rather than muddling the cucumbers, we made an aromatic base by combining sliced cucumbers with the gin, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice. Refrigerating this mixture for at least 2 hours allowed the subtle flavor of the cucumbers to meld with the other ingredients—no muddling required.
In a shaken cocktail, the vigorous agitation melts some of the ice, just enough to dilute the drink and bring it into balance. To match this optimal level of dilution in a big batch, we stirred in 1 cup of cold water. From there, all we had to do was strain the cocktail into signature collins glasses with ice, some lemony sparkling water, and a garnish of cucumber slices and lemon twists.
Big-Batch Cucumber Collins Cocktails
Borrowed inspiration led us to a large-format version of this ultra-refreshing cocktail.
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