Tom Collins is a delicious and simple to make gin cocktail. The drink got its name from a joke in the 1800s and is still going strong today. If you’ve never had it before it tastes like boozy, fizzy lemonade. It’s a variation of a gin sour that can be made with virtually any gin.
This is one classic cocktail that is so easy to make you don’t even need a cocktail shaker for a Tom Collins.
Related: 40+ Cocktails to Make at Home, Classic Gimlet Cocktail, Mint Mojito, Gin & Tonic, Cosmopolitan, Hugo Spritz and Simple Syrup Recipe.
What is a Tom Collins?
If you’ve never had a Tom Collins before, it is essentially a spiked lemonade drink. It’s made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda or Sprite. I prefer the club soda version, but I won’t turn my nose up to the Sprite version. If you’re in the mood for a refreshing cocktail, this is a great one to try.
Want to try a variation? Try this:
- Vodka Collins – replace the gin with vodka, sometimes called a Joe Collins
- John Collins -replace the gin with bourbon
- Ron Collins – replace the gin with rum
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Tom Collins Ingredients
- Gin – any brand works, Old Tom Gin was traditionally used.
- Lemon Juice – fresh squeezed
- Simple Syrup – storebought or make your own simple syrup recipe.
- Club Soda – any brand like Topo Chico or Fever Tree, also sparkling water like LaCriox work too.
- Ice
- Lemon Slices For garnish
- Maraschino Cherry For garnish (we love using Luxardo brand)
How to Make a Tom Collins
Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a Collins glass.
Add Ice, then top it off with club soda and stir until well mixed.
Garnish with slices of lemons and a marachino cherry.
Serve a Tom Collins cocktail in a Collins glass, also called a highball glass.
Substitutions and Notes
- Some recipes will use sugar cubes or granulated white sugar in place of simple syrup. While you can do this, simple syrup will mix best in a drink so it’s what we recommend here.
- Replace club soda with Sprite or 7Up for a sweeter cocktail.
- Place your glass is the freezer before mixing for an even more refreshing experience.
History of a Tom Collins Cocktail
Dating back to 1874 the Tom Collins recipe got its name when a group of friends began telling people in New York City bars that a man called “Tom Collins” was spreading lies. So many partons began searching for this mysterious Tom Collins that bartenders were inspired to name a drink after him.
The Tom Collins was first recorded by mixologist Jerry Thomas in 1882 in his book New and Improved Bartender’s Manual. Thomas is considered the father of modern mixology. The drink has been well known ever since.
More Gin Cocktails:
Tom Collins
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 6-7 ounces club soda
- 1 lemon wedge for garish
- 1 maraschino cherries for garnish
Instructions
- Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a Collins glass.
- Add Ice, then top it off with club soda and stir until well mixed.
- Garnish with slices of lemons and a marachino cherry.
Notes
- Replace to gin with vodka to make a “Vodka Collins” cocktail.
- Replace the gin with whiskey to create a “John Collins” cocktail.
- Replace club soda with Sprite or 7Up for a sweeter cocktail.
- Place your glass is the freezer before mixing for an even more refreshing experience.