Cool Collins (Non-Alcoholic)

This is the virgin version of the Tom Collins and it is made pretty much the same way except without the gin. The taste is pretty good, too, like a sparkling lemonade with mint. The original recipe calls for muddled mint and sugar in the shaker which is poured into the highball glass. I think that this trick ruins the illusion of the minty lemonade. I strained out the mint with a fine strainer and poured the remaining liquid over fresh ice. You get a cool bite from this sparkling lemonade that is similar to what it was like to drinking the original hard liquor drink.

• 2 oz. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 7 mint leaves
• sparkling water
• lemon slice
• mint sprig

Muddle mint and sugar in a cocktail shaker before adding lemon juice and ice. Shake and fine strain into a Collins glass full of fresh ice. Top with sparkling water and stir. Garnish with lemon slice and mint sprig.