Tom Collins Cocktail

The Tom Collins dates back more than a century and a half, but its welcoming crispness keeps it fresh always. So established in the libational world, the Tom Collins even has its own eponymous glass (tall, with plenty of room for ice). The drink features aromatic gin, fresh lemon juice, a touch of simple syrup for sweet balance, and a good pour of club soda for a refreshingly fizzy quaff.

Over the years, the drink has faced some challenges—bottles of Holland House Collins Mix in my parents' liquor cabinet spring to mind. Was squeezing a lemon really so difficult? But successfully navigating its course from horse-and-carriage days to the digital age, the Tom Collins is built for survival. Keep some lemons, gin, and soda water on hand and you can knock together a Collins whenever the urge may strike.