Tom Collins
The Tom Collins is a classic gin cocktail made with fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup and soda water. Served tall over ice, it combines bright citrus acidity, gentle sweetness and refreshing bubbles with the botanical character of gin. This easy Tom Collins recipe is perfect for warm afternoons, aperitivo hour and anyone who enjoys a crisp, refreshing gin highball.
Tom Collins Recipe
- Gin 50 ml
- Lemon juice 25 ml
- Cane sugar syrup 15 ml
- Soda water 50 ml
- Fresh lemon 1 slice, optional
- Ice, for serving 200 g
HOW TO BUILD A REFRESHING TOM COLLINS
- Add 50 ml gin, 25 ml fresh lemon juice and 15 ml cane sugar syrup to a tall highball or Collins glass.
- Fill the glass with approximately 200 g of ice and stir briefly to combine and chill the ingredients.
- Slowly top with 50 ml well-chilled soda water.
- Stir gently once or twice to combine while preserving the carbonation.
- Garnish with a fresh lemon slice if desired, and serve immediately.
WHAT MAKES A GREAT TOM COLLINS?
A great Tom Collins balances botanical gin, fresh lemon acidity, gentle sweetness and lively carbonation. The gin provides structure and aromatic depth, while lemon juice keeps the cocktail bright and refreshing. Sugar syrup softens the citrus without making the drink overly sweet.
Cold soda water lengthens the cocktail and gives it a crisp, sparkling finish. Unlike a Gin Fizz, a modern Tom Collins is commonly built directly in a tall glass over ice, making it especially easy to prepare at home.
The finished drink should be light, refreshing and well balanced, with the gin remaining noticeable alongside the citrus and bubbles.
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TOM COLLINS: RECIPE, INGREDIENTS & TIPS
The Tom Collins is one of the best-known classic gin highballs, combining gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar and soda water in a tall, refreshing drink. Its simple ingredients make it easy to prepare at home, but choosing the right gin and balancing the lemon and sweetness can make a noticeable difference. This guide explains the classic Tom Collins recipe, its connection to Old Tom Gin, the difference between a Tom Collins and a Gin Fizz, and how to prepare the perfect sparkling highball.
THE STORY OF THE TOM COLLINS
The Tom Collins is a classic gin cocktail with roots in the nineteenth century. Its history is closely connected to the John Collins, a gin-based drink associated with London's Limmer's Hotel and a bartender named John Collins.
As the cocktail developed, the name Tom Collins became associated with Old Tom Gin, a traditionally softer and slightly sweeter style of gin. By the 1880s, cocktail books distinguished between the Tom Collins, commonly made with Old Tom Gin, and the John Collins, which was associated with Dutch genever.
The name also became connected with the famous Tom Collins Hoax of 1874, an American practical joke in which people were persuaded to search for a fictional man supposedly spreading rumours about them. The relationship between the hoax and the cocktail's name remains debated.
Today, the Tom Collins is commonly prepared with London Dry Gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup and soda water. Its simple balance of citrus, sweetness and carbonation has made it one of the most enduring gin highballs.
THE BEST INGREDIENTS FOR A TOM COLLINS
A classic Tom Collins can be prepared with either Old Tom Gin or London Dry Gin. Old Tom Gin is historically associated with the cocktail and typically brings a softer, slightly sweeter character. London Dry Gin creates a crisper, more juniper-forward drink that works particularly well with fresh lemon and soda water.
For our recipe, we recommend Tanqueray London Dry Gin. Its distinctive juniper and citrus notes remain noticeable even after the cocktail is lengthened with soda water.
Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for bright, natural acidity. For a convenient alternative when fresh lemons are unavailable, Alnatura Lemon Juice can be used, although freshly squeezed juice offers the freshest flavour.
MONIN Pure Cane Sugar Syrup provides consistent sweetness and blends easily with the gin and lemon. Our recipe uses 15 ml per cocktail, balancing the citrus without making the drink heavy.
Finish with Fever-Tree Premium Soda Water for clean carbonation and a refreshing sparkling finish. Keep it thoroughly chilled and add it just before serving.
TOM COLLINS VS. GIN FIZZ: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
The Tom Collins and Gin Fizz share four main ingredients: gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup and soda water. Their main differences are preparation, serving style and texture.
A Tom Collins is commonly built directly in a tall glass filled with ice. Gin, lemon and syrup are combined before soda water is added, creating a refreshing highball that stays cold as the ice slowly melts.
A Gin Fizz is traditionally shaken with ice before being strained into a chilled glass without serving ice. Cold soda water is then added, creating a lightly aerated and sparkling cocktail.
Both are refreshing gin classics, but the Tom Collins is particularly suited to slow sipping over ice, while the Gin Fizz has a lighter, more delicate presentation.
HOW TO MAKE A REFRESHING TOM COLLINS
A Tom Collins is easy to prepare because it can be built directly in the serving glass. Start with gin, fresh lemon juice and cane sugar syrup, then add plenty of ice and stir briefly to chill and combine the ingredients.
Slowly pour in well-chilled soda water and stir only once or twice. Avoid vigorous mixing, which can release carbonation and leave the cocktail flat.
A tall Collins glass or highball glass is ideal because it provides enough room for the drink and plenty of ice. Larger ice cubes work particularly well, keeping the cocktail cold while slowing dilution.
Finish with a fresh lemon slice and serve immediately. The drink should be bright, sparkling and refreshing, with enough sweetness to balance the lemon while preserving the botanical character of the gin.
HOW TO BALANCE A TOM COLLINS
Our Tom Collins recipe uses 50 ml gin, 25 ml lemon juice, 15 ml cane sugar syrup and 50 ml soda water. These proportions produce a refreshing, gin-forward highball with bright citrus and gentle sweetness.
If the cocktail tastes too sour, increase the sugar syrup slightly. If it tastes too sweet, reduce the syrup or add a little more fresh lemon juice. The aim is to preserve a refreshing balance rather than disguise the gin with sugar.
Soda water controls the cocktail's length and intensity. Adding slightly more creates a lighter drink, while using less gives the gin and lemon a more concentrated flavour.
Always use well-chilled soda water and plenty of ice. The finished cocktail should remain crisp and sparkling from the first sip to the last.
Questions about the Tom Collins
What is a Tom Collins made from?
A classic Tom Collins combines gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and soda water. Drinkero's recipe uses 50 ml gin, 25 ml lemon juice, 15 ml sugar syrup and 50 ml soda water.
What is the best gin for a Tom Collins?
A London Dry Gin is an excellent choice because its botanical character stands up well to lemon and soda. Drinkero recommends Tanqueray London Dry Gin.
What is the difference between a Tom Collins and a Gin & Tonic?
A Tom Collins combines gin with lemon, sugar and soda water, giving it a fresh sweet-and-sour profile. A Gin & Tonic uses tonic water, which adds its characteristic bitterness.
Does a Tom Collins need soda water?
Yes. Soda water is a defining part of the Tom Collins, lengthening the cocktail and providing its light, sparkling finish.
Does a Tom Collins need a garnish?
No. A garnish is optional. Drinkero uses a fresh lemon slice when desired for extra citrus aroma and presentation.
How do I make Tom Collins cocktails for a group?
Choose 6, 12, 24 or 48 Tom Collins cocktails in the Drinkero Cocktail Kit Builder. Drinkero calculates the gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, soda water and other quantities you need.
Is it an IBA cocktail?
The IBA officially lists the closely related John Collins in its Contemporary Classics category, rather than giving the Tom Collins a separate entry. Its official recipe specifically notes that Old Tom Gin should be used for a Tom Collins. The Collins family therefore has an official IBA specification, although the Tom Collins does not have its own separately named entry. See the official IBA John Collins recipe
