Tall, sparkling, and effortlessly refreshing — the Tom Collins is gin's answer to lemonade, but infinitely more refined. It is light enough for a summer afternoon yet structured enough to hold its own at any serious bar.
Ingredients
Glass
Collins Glass
The Story
The Tom Collins traces its name to a bizarre 1874 prank known as "The Great Tom Collins Hoax." People across New York would tell friends that a man named Tom Collins was saying terrible things about them at a nearby bar. When the victim rushed in looking for Tom Collins, the bartender would simply hand them a drink. The joke spread so widely that bartenders started putting the drink on their menus.
The recipe itself, however, predates the hoax. It descends from the John Collins, a drink attributed to a headwaiter at Limmer's Hotel in London who used genever. When London Dry gin replaced genever, the name shifted to Tom Collins, and the recipe became a cornerstone of cocktail culture.
How We Make It
Lemon Juice & Sugar
Pour 30ml fresh lemon juice and 15ml simple syrup into a shaker filled with ice.
Gin
Add 60ml London Dry gin and shake well for about 10 seconds.
Strain
Strain into a tall Collins glass filled with fresh ice.
Soda & Garnish
Fill the glass with cold soda, stir lightly, and garnish with a lemon slice and a maraschino cherry.
Variations
John Collins
The original version with genever (Dutch gin) instead of London Dry — a fuller body with grain and malt aromas.
Vodka Collins
Substitute vodka for gin to create a cleaner, more neutral canvas. Perfect for those who prefer a subtler base spirit.
French 75
Replace the soda water with champagne for a celebratory, sparkling upgrade. Same gin-and-lemon foundation, but with bubbles and elegance.
Bartender Tips
Fresh Juice Only
Always squeeze lemons to order. Bottled lemon juice tastes flat and bitter — fresh citrus is what makes the Collins sing.
Soda Last
Add the soda water after straining and give only a gentle stir. Over-mixing kills the carbonation that gives this drink its sparkle.
Sweet-Sour Balance
Taste before adding the soda. If it's too sour, add a little syrup. If it's too sweet, a few more drops of lemon.