Zen Collins Recipe: Tequila, Cucumber and Lime

Ingredients

4 slice cucumber plus one wheel for garnish
1¾ oz blanco tequilae.g. Olmeca Altos · Patrón · Don Julio · Espolòn · El Jimador
¾ oz lime juice
½ oz simple syrup
top up with soda water about 90 ml
1 sprig dill for garnish (optional)

Garnish: Cucumber wheel, optional dill sprig · Ice: Ice cubes

Method

Muddle the cucumber slices in the base of a shaker.
Add tequila, lime juice and syrup, then fill with ice.
Shake for 8 to 10 seconds.
Double strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice.
Top with soda water, stir gently and garnish with a cucumber wheel and, if you like, a sprig of dill.

Watch it made

Zen Collins

Taste

Light and fresh, with cool cucumber, green, peppery agave and bright lime, gently sweetened and lifted by soda.

History and origin

The Zen Collins is a modern variation on the Collins formula of spirit, citrus, sugar and soda, one of the oldest highball templates in the bar world. The Tom Collins made it famous with gin, and bartenders have since built Collins drinks on almost every spirit.

This version uses blanco tequila and fresh cucumber, a pairing that became popular in cocktail bars in the 2000s, when fresh produce and lighter, vegetal flavors moved onto menus. It appears mainly in brand and home-bartending recipes, and there is no documented creator. The dill garnish is an optional aromatic touch that echoes the green, herbal character of the drink.

Bartender tips

Double straining removes cucumber bits and keeps the drink clean and clear.
English or mini cucumbers have thin skin and fewer seeds, which gives a fresher, less bitter flavor.
Add a pinch of salt to the shaker to make the cucumber taste brighter.

Variations

Tom Collins: The classic with gin and lemon, without cucumber.
Cucumber Gin Collins: Swap the tequila for gin; cucumber and juniper are a natural match.
Spicy Zen Collins: Easy twist: muddle a slice of jalapeño with the cucumber.