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Part n
SECTION V
COLLINS
These are normally summer or hot weather drinks, long
and refreshing and made with plenty of ice. There is
some doubt as to their origin,though they are often claimed
to be American and may have been derived from the
Gin SHnf. However, as gin was widely drunk in the
British Is":js long before it gained popularity in the United
States, it is quite probable that the drink may have
■originated on this side of the Atlantic. A clue to this is
containedin abook called" Drinks of the World "published
in 1892. This contains the following rhyming verse m
■connection with a celebrated waiter of the time :—
"My name is John Collins, headwaiter at Limmer s
Corner of Conduit Street, Hanover Square.
My chief occupation is filling brimmers
For all the young gentlemen frequenters there."
The book states that the ingredients of the drink dis
pensed by this gentleman were gin, soda, lemon and
sugar.
There is no doubt that the Collins has developed a large
family since the early days and some of its cousins are
Gin Coolers, Gin Rickeys, etc., information about which
will be found in following sections.
In the 1930's and before a John Collins was made with
Dutch Gin, and Tom Collins with " Old Tom " Gin. The
modern trend in the British Isles is to use London Dry for
both these drinks.
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