Citrus-Spiced Meridian Collins
A refreshing and lightly spiced citrus cocktail combining bright lemon with warm spices for a balanced sip. This recipe, ready in about 5 minutes, brings together gin, fresh lemon juice, club soda for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 160 calories and feeds 1, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 oz spiced simple syrup (cinnamon and clove infused)
- 2 oz club soda
- 1 slice lemon wheel
- 1 piece cinnamon stick
The shaker and jigger we’d mix this with → Best Bar Tools for 2026: Shakers, Jiggers & Strainers Worth Buying
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Pour in 2 oz gin, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and 3/4 oz spiced simple syrup.
- Step 2: Shake vigorously for 15 seconds until the shaker is frosty cold.
- Step 3: Strain into a tall Collins glass filled with fresh ice cubes.
- Step 4: Top with 2 oz club soda and stir gently with a bar spoon for 10 seconds to combine without losing fizz.
- Step 5: Garnish by resting a cinnamon stick vertically inside the glass and placing a lemon wheel on the rim.
