Enjoy the simplicity of this Raspberry Collins recipe! The blend of Gin, fresh lemon juice, raspberries, and soda water makes an energizing cocktail perfect for spring.
Prep time:
1 minute
Mixing time:
1 minute
Servings:
1
Calories:
191
Ingredients
- 2 oz Gin
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- ⅔ oz simple syrup
- 5 fresh raspberries
- 3-4 oz soda water - to top
- Ice cubes
- Skewered fresh raspberries and icing sugar - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Collins Glass
- Muddler
- Shaker
- Cocktail Strainer
- Fine strainer
- Measuring Jigger
- Bar spoon or long stirrer
Instructions
- Prep Glass: Fill a Collins glass with ice cubes. Give it a stir to chill it and set it aside.
- Muddle Raspberries: In your shaker, add 5 fresh raspberries and 1 oz fresh lemon juice. Muddle to extract the flavor from the raspberries.
- Add Simple Syrup: Add ⅔ oz simple syrup.
- Add Gin: Measure and pour 2 oz Gin 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 and use the cocktail strainer to remove any excess water inside. Then, using both the cocktail strainer and the fine strainer, 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: Put a few raspberries on a cocktail skewer. Gently place it on top of the glass, sprinkle it with icing sugar, and serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Gin: If you're out of Gin, pisco or vodka can be good substitutes. It will give you a different flavor profile, but it's still delicious. For a non-alcoholic version, several non-alcoholic gins are available that do a decent job of mimicking the botanicals in Gin.
- Lemon Juice: Bottled lemon juice can work in a pinch if you don't have fresh lemons, but I always prefer fresh when possible. Fresh lime juice can also be an option.
- Simple Syrup: You can make your simple syrup at home by dissolving equal parts sugar and water over low heat. Honey syrup (2 parts honey to 1 part hot water) or agave syrup can also work if you're out of sugar.
Making a Pitcher of Raspberry Collins:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, you'll need 16 oz of Gin, 8 oz of lemon juice, 5 ½ oz of simple syrup, and about 40 raspberries.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, muddle the raspberries. Add the Gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Let it rest for 10 minutes for the raspberry flavor to infuse, then add ice and stir well.
- Serve: Strain to remove the ice and the raspberry pieces and pour the mixture into individual ice-filled Collins glasses. Top with soda water, garnish with a extra raspberries, 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:
- Gin 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 Gin, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
Making it Vegan:
The Raspberry Collins cocktail is naturally vegan as it doesn't contain any animal products. Most spirits, including gin, 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 Raspberry Collins?
A Raspberry Collins is a gin-based fruity cocktail made of fresh raspberries, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and soda water. This drink is easy to make; the process involves muddling the raspberries with sugar syrup before adding the other ingredients, which are relatively straightforward steps even for beginners in mixology. The Raspberry Collins is an exciting twist on the classic Tom Collins cocktail, offering a sweet yet tart flavor profile that’s perfect for summer sipping. Its vibrant red color from natural raspberry gives it an appealing look, making it delicious and visually enticing.
What is a Raspberry Collins made of – The ingredients
If you’re making a Raspberry Collins, here’s what you’ll need:
- Raspberries: These small, red fruits add a sweet and slightly tart flavor to the cocktail. They also give the drink its distinctive pink color.
- Gin: This is the primary alcohol in Raspberry Collins. It provides a robust and juniper-based flavor that balances out the sweetness of the other ingredients.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a tangy citrus note to the cocktail, enhancing its refreshing quality.
- Simple Syrup: This mixture of sugar and water sweetens the drink, counteracting the tartness of the raspberries and lemon juice.
- Soda Water: Added last, soda water gives the Raspberry Collins its characteristic fizz and dilutes the strong flavors just enough to make it a light, sippable drink.
- Ice: Used both in shaking and serving, ice chills the cocktail to make it more refreshing.
