Built rather than shaken, the Lone Tree Cooler stretches gin and dry vermouth into a tall, sessionable long drink by topping the pour with carbonated water. Powdered sugar is first dissolved with a splash of soda in the base of a Collins glass, after which ice, the spirits, and more soda are added in stages. An orange spiral and a length of lemon peel drape over the rim, layering two distinct citrus aromatics over the dry botanical base while the sugar lends only mild sweetness. The result is a diluted, low-strength refresher near 14 percent ABV, lighter and longer than its stirred Lone Tree Cocktail counterpart and suited to leisurely drinking.
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Lone Tree Cooler
Ingrédients
- Carbonated Water Top
- Gin 2 oz
- Dry Vermouth 1/2 oz
- Powdered sugar 1 tsp
- Orange spiral 1
- Lemon peel 1
Instructions
Stir powdered sugar and 2 oz. carbonated water in a collins glass. Fill glass with ice, add gin and vermouth, and stir. Fill with carbonated water and stir again. Add the twist of lemon peel and the orange spiral so that the end dangles over rim of glass.
The Lone Tree Cooler is a tall gin drink built on dry vermouth and gin topped with carbonated water and decorated with both an orange spiral and lemon peel for layered citrus aromatics. Powdered sugar provides mild sweetness to balance the dry botanical base. Served in a Collins glass over ice, it is a refreshing, sessionable long drink.
History & Origins
The Lone Tree Cooler is a variation in the cooler family of long, fizzy cocktails popular from the late 19th century through the 1930s. Its origin is disputed, though it appears in mid-20th-century American bar guides as a summer adaptation of the classic Lone Tree Cocktail. The dual citrus peel garnish was a hallmark of skilled pre-Prohibition bartending.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Bright juniper and orange peel aromatics with a hint of lemon and vermouth herbal notes. Palate: Refreshing and lightly sweet with botanical gin, dry vermouth structure, and effervescent carbonation. Finish: Crisp and clean with a citrus and herbal tail.
Pro Tip
Add both the orange spiral and lemon twist last, expressing each over the glass to release the oils before dropping them in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a Lone Tree Cooler?
The Lone Tree Cooler is a classic cooler cocktail typically made with dry gin, dry vermouth, lemon juice, and ginger ale or soda water, served over ice in a tall glass. Some versions incorporate a dash of orange bitters or a lemon twist for aromatic complexity. It is a light, refreshing drink with a subtly herbal character from the gin and vermouth combination.
How is the Lone Tree Cooler served?
The Lone Tree Cooler is served in a highball glass filled with ice, built by combining gin, vermouth, and citrus juice before topping with ginger ale or soda water. A lemon or orange twist or wedge is used as garnish. Minimal stirring after adding the carbonated mixer preserves the effervescence.
What distinguishes the Lone Tree Cooler from similar drinks?
The Lone Tree Cooler is distinguished by its use of both dry gin and dry vermouth, which gives it a more complex, herbaceous base compared to simpler gin coolers. The vermouth adds a wine-like dryness that balances the citrus and sweetness of the ginger ale. It sits stylistically between a gin and tonic and a classic martini-style drink.
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