Collins Bordeaux Cherries

Collins Bordeaux Cherries is a Collins-style mixer from Esplanda, built around dark Bordeaux cherries. The listing gives no ingredient list, sweetness level or volume, so what follows is what to expect from a mixer of this type. Collins mixers usually pair citrus acidity with sweetener to make a ready sour base, and the cherry adds a darker, jammy fruit note. Expect it to taste tart and fruit-forward rather than neutral, and to look deeper in colour than a standard lemon Collins mix. The classic way to use it is the Collins format. Pour 50 ml of gin into a tall glass over plenty of ice, add roughly 60 to 90 ml of the mixer, top with soda water, and stir briefly. Gin is the natural base because its juniper and botanicals cut through the cherry. Vodka makes a cleaner, more cherry-led version. Bourbon or rye also work, since the oak and spice in those spirits suit dark fruit. Because the sweet-and-sour balance is already built in, start with a lighter pour of mixer and adjust to taste instead of using the full measure. A squeeze of fresh lemon sharpens the result if it comes out sweeter than you like. Serve it well chilled, with the bottle kept in the fridge, and build the drink over large, dense ice so it stays cold without diluting quickly. A chilled highball or Collins glass is the right vessel, as it holds the ice and the soda and keeps the fizz. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a cherry, or an orange peel if you are pairing it with whiskey. For food, the tart cherry character should suit salty or rich dishes such as charcuterie, aged hard cheeses, grilled sausages, and roast pork or duck.