LONG DRINKS

The long weekends have started and that's a great reason to make some "Long Drinks".

Great Long Weekend Long Drinks click on the drink name to get the full recipe • Tom Collins • Cointreau Tonic • Gin and Tonic • Mint Julep • Harvey Wallbanger

The very term suggests a long, slim glass filled with ice and your favorite combination of spirits and mixers, best consumed in a hammock and preferably by the pool.

WHAT IS A "LONG DRINK"?

The classic reference to any drink containing more than 5 ounces of liquid but less than 9 ounces. This terminology had fallen out of favor over the last decade or two, but is now enjoying a revival. Typically a long drink will have lots of ice and mixer, perfect for warmer days.

TYPES OF LONG DRINKS

Drinks used to be broken down by category much more than they are today. All of the following drink "types" fell into the larger family of "Long Drinks": Cobblers, Collins, Crustas, Fixes, Flips, Highballs, Juleps, Rickeys, Sangrias, Slings, Sodas, Swizzles, Tropicanas and more. From this long list of types came many of the classic drinks that have survived to this day, a few of which deserve to be called "Classic Long Drinks".

CLASSIC "LONG DRINKS"

A large reason for the popularity of the Tom Collins comes from its reputation as a drink which is very difficult, if not impossible, to mix improperly. Shake some gin, lemon juice and soda water with ice, and voilá.

	barTIP Few bartenders actual use "real" Collins glasses. Most will serve the Tom Collins in a highball glass. A Collins glass is generally larger than a highball glass and often has a frosted texture.

History of the Tom Collins: Folklore surrounding the naming of the Tom Collins varies as widely as the recipes, though there appear to be two basic varieties. Many believe that it was named after the original spirit used to create it, Old Tom Gin, which was a sweet gin popular at the turn of the 20th century. This still leaves the 'Collins' part of the name open to question. Some believe it was named after the clever bartender who invented it.

	barHINT Unless you are royalty, your Tom Collins will likely never be made from scratch at the local bar. A Collins mix - which is basically club soda, lemon juice, and sugar - is generally sprayed from the fountain hose behind the bar. However, at home you can make yours the right way! Another "LONG" IDEA, LONG ISLAND ICED TEA RECIPE

Tom's Family:
There are a number of variations on the basic Tom Collins theme, most differing primarily in the main alcoholic ingredient. Here are a few of the most common ones, along with their different base.

• Brandy Collins (Brandy)
• Jack Collins (Applejack)
• John Collins (Bourbon)
• Pedro (Rum) Collins (Rum)
• Tequila Collins (Tequila)

2. HARVEY WALLBANGER
This drink became extremely popular in the 1970s and there are two accounts of its origin. One story goes that Bill Doner, while tending bar in a place named “The Office” in Newport Beach, created it. The other tale states that a surfer named Harvey liked his screwdrivers spiked with Galliano and after a hard day, had one too many and walked into a wall. Simple, but this is our favorite.

Harvey Wallbanger recipe »

3. COINTREAU AND TONIC
The key ingredient in this drink, Cointreau, is a crystal-clear liqueur based on a perfect blend of sweet and bitter orange peels from the most exotic parts of the world. The secret recipe of Cointreau has been passed down from generation to generation and remains unique, unchanged and a secret since its creation over 150 years ago. Sometimes the simplest things in life are the best!

Cointreau Tonic recipe »

4. MINT JULEP
The word “julep” itself is a French word, and the drink dates back to ancient times. Cool, frosty and refreshing, the mint julep originated somewhere in the southern U.S. (debates continue), but Kentucky can safely take credit for its popularity.

Try a Mint Julep in a tall glass filled with ice and real mint leaves and taste the south while pretending you are at the Kentucky derby.

Visit our Mint Julep Drink Spotlight to learn more about this classic Long Drink.

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Summertime Cocktails
Summer Party Ideas
Frozen Drinks and Cocktails