Elderflower Collins

Our Elderflower Collins is host to some beautifully delicate floral and fruity flavours. Of course the distinctive flavour of Elderflower comes to the fore, but lemon juice and infused fresh cucumber provide balance to the palate and ensure it’s an incredibly refreshing drink. Not too sweet or fruity, the flavours are more subtle and invigorating — perfect to enjoy on a summer’s day.

1. Fill shaker with ice and add cocktail
2. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds
3. Fill tall glass with ice, strain cocktail, top with soda
4. Garnish with a slice of dried lemon

The Collins has a unique history. In 1874, New York pranksters were apparently initiating conversations with friends, that began with the question: ‘Have you seen Tom Collins’, quickly followed by a warning that this character had been insulting them and was waiting in a bar round the corner. The payoff would be the mortification of the gullible prankee asking for a Tom Collins, at which point the savvy bartender would serve them a drink of the same name to soothe their embarrassment. It’s more likely that the Collinses (Tom, John et al) were an evolution of the ‘Gin Punch’ recipe that dates from the early nineteenth century, with later derivatives being named to reflect the type of gin used. So, a Tom Collins would be made with ‘Old Tom’ (slightly sweetened) gin, while a John Collins would use London Dry gin. At Edmunds, our Elderflower Collins adds fragrant elderflower liqueur, infused with cucumber for a wonderfully fresh finish.

Our Elderflower Collins is made with Moatwood Gin, a light and smooth English gin produced in Suffolk. At its heart is wild-foraged starflower, grown on Moatwood’s 2,500-acre regenerative farm, which brings subtle floral notes alongside a hint of sweet orange. We pair the gin with elderflower liqueur to give the drink its distinctive floral flavour, then infuse it with cucumber for extra freshness. Fresh lemon juice completes this bright and refreshing Collins.