I am so thrilled to bring you a cocktail from the amazing literary-themed bar in Toronto, Ontario, Famous Last Words (FLW)! Over the past year in lockdown, I have been able to attend a number of their themed virtual cocktail classes—from Hemingway to Fleming—which I cannot recommend enough! Knowing Le Salon would be discussing Austen’s Emma this month, I reached out to FLW to see if they would let me share one of their Austen-inspired cocktail recipes.
And here it is!
A twist on the classic Tom Collins cocktail, this recipe is very English with its use of Earl Grey tea and gin. The best part of this cocktail, aside from the great taste, is that you probably already have everything in your pantry!
1 – 2 teabags of Earl Grey
2 oz gin
¾ oz simple syrup (¼ cup sugar + ¼ cup water)
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
Club soda (or if you’ve got a sweet tooth you can also use tonic water)
Measure out your gin into a separate glass or mug and add the teabag(s). Let this steep for about five minutes. Don’t worry if you notice a little less gin in the glass, it will end up measuring about 1.5 oz of gin once steeped.
Combine measured sugar and water into a container with a tight-fitting lid. Shake to combine, creating your simple syrup.
Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a Collins glass and fill with ice. Top with soda and stir gently to combine. If you’re feeling fancy, garnish with a lemon wheel!
If you are still living that lockdown life, I recommend attending or organizing a class with Famous Last Words. Get a bunch of friends together virtually and shake, stir, and pour!