Tom Collins

Usually this is a summer drink, but in the cold of February if you crank the heat, put on some summer music and close your eyes this also works.  Making your own lemon syrup is easy and it really makes this drink delicious.

2 oz gin

1 oz strained fresh lemon juice

3/4 oz lemon syrup (recipe follows)

3 oz soda water, chilled

Lemon wedge

Pour gin, lemon juice and syrup into a cocktail shaker.  Add 3 ice cubes.  Shake 5 seconds.  Strain into a chilled Highball glass filled with ice.  Top with soda and lightly stir.   Garnish with lemon wedge.

Makes 1 drink (you will go back for seconds)

LEMON SYRUP

This syrup also works great in herbal tea.

2/3 cup water

2/3 cup granulated sugar

3 lemons, washed

• In a small saucepan, heat water and sugar over medium high heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved.  Remove from heat.  Cool to room temperature.
• Using a microplane zester, zest the lemons, adding zest into syrup.  Let infuse for 10 minutes.  Pass through fine mesh strainer, pressing on zest with spoon to extract syrup.  Transfer to glass jar with lid.  Refrigerate up to 1 month.

Makes 1 cup