developed during or right after The Great Tom Collins hoax of 1874, it was believed by George Sinclair that the hoax event was the most plausible source of the name for the Tom Collins cocktail. Classified under the heading "Collins" with similarly named whisky and brandy drinks, Jerry Thomas' Tom Collins Gin instructed: Tom Collins (1887) (Use large bar-glass.) Take 5 or 6 dashes of gum syrup. Juice of a small lemon. 1 large wine-glass of gin. 2 or 3 lumps of ice; Shake up well and strain into a large bar-glass. Fill up the glass with plain soda water and drink while it is lively. This was distinguished from the Gin Fizz cocktail in that the 3 dashes of lemon juice in the Gin Fizz was "fizzed" with carbonated water to essentially form a "Gin and Sodawater" whereas the considerably more "juice of a small lemon" in the Tom Collins essentially formed a "Gin and Sparkling Lemonade" when sweetened with the gum syrup. The type of gin used by Thomas was not specified in his 1887 book, but was most likely Old Tom if that was responsible for the change in the drink's name. Popularity By 1878, the Tom Collins was being served in the bar rooms of New York City and elsewhere. Identified as among 'the favorite drinks which are in demand everywhere' in an advertisement for the 1878 edition of The Modern Bartender's Guide by O. H. Byron, both Tom Collins gin and whiskey and Tom Collins brandy were considered fancy drinks. In the 1891 book, The Flowing Bowl: When and what to Drink, author William Schmidt listed the Tom Collins as including: Tom Collins Gin (1891) The juice of half a lemon in a large glass, a bar-spoonful of sugar, a drink of Tom gin; mix this well; 2 lumps of ice, a bottle of plain soda. Mix well and serve. One turn of the 20th century recipe subsequently replaced the lemon juice with lime juice. Others An alternative history places the origin in St. Louis. Modern mix The 1986 The Book of Cocktails provides a modern take on Thomas' 1876 recipe for this long drink:John (or Tom) Collins (1986)ice cubes2 oz. [6 cL] dry gin2 oz. [6 cL] lemon juice1 teaspoon sugar (gomme) syrupsoda waterslice of lemon1 colored cherryPlace ample ice in large glass. Add gin, lemon juice and syrup. Top up with soda water