Cruising Down Collins Recipes

SWEET TEA COLLINS

Steps:

• Bring 1/4 cup each honey, fresh mint and water to a boil, stirring. Off the heat, add 1 black tea bag and steep 30 minutes. Strain and chill. For each drink, shake 2 1/4 ounces bourbon, 1 ounce lemon juice and 1 tablespoon tea syrup in a shaker with ice; serve over ice and top with seltzer. Garnish with lemon and mint.

TANGERINE-CELERY COLLINS

Steps:

• Combine the chopped celery, sugar and 2/3 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool, about 30 minutes.
• Strain the celery syrup into a pitcher and add the gin, lemon juice and tangerine juice. Pour into ice-filled glasses and top with seltzer. Garnish each with a lemon slice and some celery leaves.

COLLINS PRESERVE

Steps:

• Combine the whisky, orange liqueur, ginger, apricot preserves and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Muddle the ginger in the shaker, then cover and shake vigorously. Strain into an ice-filled glass. Garnish with a lemon slice.