Tom Collins is a delicious and simple to make gin cocktail. This drink got its name from a joke in the 1800s and is still going strong today. If you’ve never tried to make a homemade Tom Collins today is your lucky day.
Related: 40+ Cocktails to Make at Home, Classic Gimlet Cocktail, Best Mint Mojito, Classic Manhattan, Cosmopolitan 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.
This is an easy to make cocktail at home, you don’t even have to own a cocktail shaker for this recipe. You simply combine the ingredients over ice and give it a good stir—that’s it.
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Tom Collins Ingredients
- Gin The perfect spirit for a refreshing cocktail.
- Lemon Juice Fresh squeezed.
- Simple Syrup Make your own with our simple syrup recipe.
- Club Soda You can also use Sprite or 7Up for a sweeter version.
- Ice This drink is served in a tall glass with ice.
- Lemon Slices For garnish
- Maraschino Cherry For garnish (we love using Luxardo brand)
Recipe (steps to make)
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.
How to serve
A Tom Collins cocktail in a Collins glass (also called a highball glass). Serve your drink in a tall glass with ice, a straw and lemons and a cherry (optional) as garnish.
Tips for making
- 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.
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 warm weather recipes to try:
If you like Gin Gimlet cocktail, I think you should give a Tom Collins a try. Cheers!
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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.
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
I made this last night and it was great! Didn’t have simple syrup so just poured the lemon juice over a sugar cube and stirred it in. Also used lemon sparkling water for the bubbles. Thanks!
I do a combo of sprite and club soda so it’s not quite sprite-like. And I definitely stick with gin. I’ll drink a vodka collins, if I must. But I try to never must because GIN.
I like the combo idea! To me, all Sprite is a little on the sweeter side than I prefer (which I realize is subjective, that’s just my opinion). So a half and half option would be good. I more often have ginger ale or ginger beer than Sprite at home, so I bet that would be a good sub although I guess it’s verging into a Moscow mule territory at that point. 🙂
Lo intentaré muy pronto. Espectacular
I’ve never had a tom collins. Sounds simple and summery! I’ll have to give it a try
www.NancyUgo.com
Trying it this weekend!
I spy more of Penny’s googley eyes! Haha! Love it. For some reason bowling alley drink makes so much sense!
They live on! I am amazed how long the google eyes have stayed on bottles in the frig. I had no idea glue dots were that powerful. Ha
how do I make it a little more tart? Please reply. Thank you. Jimmy.
More lemon juice and/or less simple syrup. Play around with the amounts find what you like.
Sometimes I muddle blueberries in the bottom when I make these. I don’t have a cute name for it tho 🙁
Mmm, I love a Tom Collins! I like to use some shrubs (drinking vinegars) to vary the flavor and the profile of mine, then I just call them Summer Collins. Pop in a few fresh berries too, yum!
Summer Collins! I love that. Sounds delicious.