Old Man’s Drink?

I was out having drinks with my friend Carolyn last week at Martini’s in Millburn.  I was impressed that they have Bulldog gin behind the bar.  I like it when a bar has an odd ball gin, it tells me they are trying a little harder.

So Carolyn asks me to recommend a drink to her.  I was kind of surprised as I know she likes a Tom Collins, so I asked why not that?  I don’t remember the exact response, but it was along the lines that her friends tell her its an old man’s drink.  I told her “no its not”, so she had three.  But I’ve been thinking about it.  Is it an old man’s drink?  How can gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and soda go out of style?  I guess there is the thought that gin is an old man’s beverage, but with all the new gins out there, there are lots of gins with citrus and herbal notes.  I also guess the name Tom Collins is kind of stodgy, although I once went by the mansion owned by Tom Collins in the Bahamas, and I could easily live that life.

So I decided to try one.  Well not really.  I made a gin fizz.  Its really a Tom Collins without the cherry and orange slice, and it sounds much cooler. See the fizz?  It’s not easy to take a picture of fizz.

Gin Fizz

• 1.5 oz Bluecoat Gin
• .75 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• top with club soda

I’ve got to tell you, that’s one damn good drink.  Clean and crisp, the right amount of tart and sweet.  I can see why this might be an old man’s drink.  With age comes knowledge.

~ by Tom on February 2, 2009.