Our simple Genever Collins recipe offers a great way to chill out! The mix of Genever, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and soda water makes it an ideal cocktail for spring.
Prep time:
1 minute
Mixing time:
1 minute
Servings:
1
Calories:
181
Ingredients
- 2 oz Genever
- 1 oz lemon juice
- ¾ oz simple syrup
- 3-4 oz soda water
- Lemon slice and juniper berries - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Collins Glass
- Measuring Jigger
- Shaker
- Stirrer or Bar Spoon
- Cocktail Strainer
- Fine strainer
- Bar spoon or long stirrer
Instructions
- Prep Glass: Fill your Collins glass with ice cubes. Give it a stir to chill it and set it aside.
- Add Simple Syrup: Pour ¾ oz simple syrup into the shaker.
- Add Lemon Juice: Add 1 oz lemon juice.
- Add Genever: Pour 2 oz Genever into the shaker as well.
- Shake: Fill the shaker with ice, close it and give it a good shake (10-15 seconds).
- Strain: Take the Collins glass, discard the ice inside and refill with new, fresh ice cubes. Then, use the cocktail strainer to strain the shaken drink into the ice filled glass.
- Top with Soda: Top off with approx. 3-4 oz soda water (adjusting to taste and to the size of the glass).
- Stir: Using a bar spoon or long stirrer, stir gently to combine.
- Garnish: Garnish with a lemon slice and juniper berries and serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Genever: If you don't have Genever on hand, you can use gin (preferably Old Tom gin) as a substitute to make a classic Tom Collins. It won't have the same malty flavor as Genever but will still make a tasty cocktail.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice can be used instead of lemon juice for a different citrus twist. Bottled lemon juice can work in a pinch, but keep in mind that the final result won’t be as fresh and crisp.
- Simple Syrup: If you're out of simple syrup, you can make your own by dissolving equal parts sugar and water over low heat. Alternatively, agave nectar or honey syrup (2 parts honey to 1 part hot water) can be used.
Making a Pitcher of Genever Collins:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of Genever, 8 oz of lemon juice, and 6 oz of simple syrup.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the Genever, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Add ice and stir well.
- Serve: Strain to remove the ice, pour into ice-filled Collins glasses and top up with club soda. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice and a few juniper berries and serve immediately. If you have some leftovers, be sure to keep it in the fridge (make sure no ice cubes are left inside) in an airtight container.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Genever Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic gin substitute; these are available and reasonably mimic gin's botanicals.
- Proceed As Usual: Use this non-alcoholic substitute instead of the regular Genever, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
Making it Vegan:
The Genever Collins cocktail is naturally vegan as it doesn't contain any animal products. Most spirits, including Genever, are vegan-friendly. However, some brands may use animal products in their production process, especially if a filtration process is involved. Always check the brand's website or contact them directly to ensure their products are vegan.What is a Genever Collins?
A Genever Collins is a long drink made of Genever, lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda water. This refreshing drink is relatively easy to make as it only requires measuring ingredients accurately and mixing them together in the correct order. It’s a variant of the well-known Tom Collins cocktail but uses Genever – a Dutch spirit, precursor of gin as we know it today – instead of gin. Just like gin, genever is made using juniper berries as a primary component but has a maltier flavor than most gins. This unique spirit gives an exciting twist on the classic Tom Collins by introducing deeper flavors while maintaining the signature botanical taste and effervescence of a classic Collins cocktail.
What is a Genever Collins made of – The ingredients
These are the ingredients you need to create a Genever Collins:
- Genever: A Dutch spirit that forms the base of the cocktail. It’s a predecessor to gin, with a malty and complex flavor profile.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a tangy freshness to balance out the sweetness of the sugar and the strong flavor of the Genever.
- Simple Syrup: Sweetens the cocktail and helps blend all the flavors smoothly.
- Club Soda: Gives the cocktail its characteristic fizziness and lightness, making it more refreshing.
- Lemon Wheel & Juniper berries (for garnish): Enhances presentation and adds a hint of extra citrus flavor when served.
