The Tom Collins cocktail has been around for over a hundred years and has remained consistently popular. With only four ingredients—botanical gin, zesty lemon juice, a touch of sweetness and plenty of bubbly soda water—the recipe for a Tom Collins is quaffable and easy to make, yet embodies effortless sophistication.
While the origins of this classic cocktail are up for debate, odds are that London barman John Collins’s gin punch recipe of the early 1800s had something to do with it. By 1864, long after his passing, a long, tall drink called a Collins could be found in Montreal and Australia, and it arrived in New York City by 1872. There are many theories as to how “Tom” was added to the name (including the Tom Collins Hoax of 1874; look that one up for a laugh), but the explanation that makes the most sense is the cocktails’ use of Old Tom gin.
What’s in a Tom Collins?
One of the classic gin cocktails, a Tom Collins is made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and soda water. Because of those three ingredients, the Tom Collins falls under a category of drinks known as sours, but there are subtle differences between a Tom Collins and other popular sours like gimlets, gin fizzes and gin rickeys.
For a cocktail to be considered part of the sour family, it needs a spirit, citrus juice and some sweetness, but it can include modifications. (A gimlet, which is just gin, lime and simple syrup, is a perfect, unmodified example of a sour.) We use a basic sour recipe and add soda water to make a Tom Collins. To make a gin fizz, we add an egg white to the mix, and for a French 75, we add champagne instead of soda water. A gin rickey takes out the sugar and uses lime juice instead of lemon. The list goes on and on.
Tom Collins Ingredients
- Gin: Every gin has a slightly different flavor because each distiller uses a secret blend of botanicals, which often includes lemon or other citrus notes. There are a couple of categories of gin that work well in a Tom Collins. London dry gin is a juniper-forward spirit that goes well with the lemon. For a sweeter option, try Old Tom gin. There’s no wrong answer.
- Fresh lemon juice: Either pull out your hand juicer or juice lemons the easy way by throwing them in a food processor; this cocktail is best with the fresh stuff. My local grocery store has recently started carrying freshly squeezed, unsweetened lemon and lime juice, a great option when I’m pressed for time.
- Simple syrup: You can purchase simple syrup at the store, but it’s easy to make yourself. It consists of equal parts water and sugar, heated until the sugar is liquid. Store any extra in a glass, lidded container in the refrigerator for up to four weeks.
- Club soda: Any bubbly water can work for this cocktail. I always prefer Topo Chico because it has tons of tiny bubbles, perfect if you want effervescence to tickle your nose as you sip!
- Lemon slice and maraschino cherry: Don’t juice all of your lemons! Save one and cut it in half, end to end. Lay the halves flat and slice them into several half moons. Buy a jar of bright-red maraschino cherries at any grocery store, or get a little fancy and use Luxardo cherries.
Directions
Step 1: Combine the ingredients
Fill a cocktail shaker about three-fourths full of ice. Add the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup.
Editor’s Tip: Put ice in your Collins or highball glass to begin chilling it. Some bartenders pour the soda into the glass at this stage before the other ingredients, but I like to save it for the end.
Step 2: Shake the cocktail
Cover your shaker and shake only until condensation forms on the outside, about 10 to 15 seconds.
Step 3: Pour and garnish the cocktail
Strain the shaker’s contents into the Collins glass, top the glass off with soda water and garnish with a lemon slice and a cherry.
Recipe Variations
- Switch spirits: Rum, whiskey, vodka or tequila all pair with the elegantly simple combination of lemon juice, simple syrup and bubbles.
- Juice it up: Try lime or grapefruit juice instead of or in addition to lemon. Other fruit juices, like berries or melon, are also fun; just be sure to balance the sweeter ones by adding less simple syrup.
- Try it with honey: Instead of simple syrup, try making honey syrup. It’s the same recipe: equal parts honey and water, heated until combined. It adds a richness in flavor that can’t be(e) beaten.
Can you make Tom Collins drinks ahead of time?
It’s easy to make a batch of Tom Collins cocktails ahead of time. If you want to make a larger batch for a crowd, combine your lemon juice, simple syrup and gin, staying true to the recipe’s ratio, and refrigerate the cocktail base in an airtight container. This mixture can last up to 24 hours. When you are ready to sip, make sure the ingredients are well mixed and pour 3 1/2 ounces directly into each glass like a delightful adult lemonade. Top the glasses with soda, garnish them and you are all set.
Tom Collins Tips
What type of glass do you use for a Tom Collins?
It has its own glass! A Collins glass is the best type of cocktail glass for a Tom Collins. Named after the cocktail and dating back to the mid-1800s, a Collins glass is a tall, narrow tumbler, perfect for keeping bubbles bubbly. Made for a long drink, a cocktail meant to be sipped, enjoyed and usually bulked up with soda water, the Collins glass was larger than its predecessors. It is also very similar to a highball glass, which holds more volume than a Collins glass but isn’t quite as tall. Vintage glasses are my obsession, and estate sales are a great place to discover gorgeous Collins glasses.
How do you make simple syrup?
Simple syrup is as simple as heating one part sugar to one part water until they combine to form a syrup. Let it cool before making your cocktails. I try to make more than I need because it keeps in the fridge for up to a month in a sealed container.
Can you use seltzer or sparkling water in a Tom Collins?
A proper Tom Collins recipe requires club soda or any other water with bubbles, including seltzer or sparkling water. Seltzer is water that has been carbonated with no added minerals, while club soda has some trace minerals. Sparkling water is spring water that is naturally carbonated and contains minerals like sodium, magnesium and calcium, depending on the source of the spring. Perrier and Topo Chico both come from natural sparkling springs.
What can you serve with a Tom Collins?
A Tom Collins shines at cocktail hour before an elegant dinner party, and can be paired with tiny bites and awesome appetizers. It goes well when dining solo with your favorite pasta recipes, too. My favorite moment to serve up a Tom Collins is at a cookout, leaning into that adult sparkling lemonade vibe. Try one with barbecued burgers, red potato and egg salad and grilled zucchini with onions. We have some great grilling ideas and barbecue desserts for more inspiration!
