The Tom Collins is one of those drinks that has been quietly getting summers right for over 150 years. Gin, lemon, a little sugar and a long pour of soda, served tall over ice. It is essentially a Gin Sour lengthened into something you can sip slowly in the sun, and that simple idea has never gone out of style. If a drink can be described as refreshing before you have even tasted it, this is the one.
I make a lot of these when the weather turns, and the whole thing lives or dies on freshness and fizz. Here is how I build one, and the small habit that keeps it lively right to the last sip.
What Is a Tom Collins?
A Tom Collins is a tall, refreshing gin cocktail made from gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup and soda water, served over ice in a tall glass. It is one of the oldest named cocktails still in regular use, with printed recipes going back to the 1870s. The Collins glass, the tall tumbler it is traditionally served in, takes its name from this very drink.
Think of it as a Gin Sour that has been stretched out and topped with soda. The gin and lemon give it a crisp, botanical backbone, the sugar softens the edges, and the soda lengthens it into something light and sparkling. It is the definition of an easy-drinking summer cocktail.
Ingredients
This makes one Tom Collins. Use the card to scale it up, and it makes a wonderful jug for a garden gathering.
A Few Notes on the Ingredients
Gin sets the tone, and a classic London dry is the traditional and reliable choice, its juniper backbone cutting cleanly through the lemon. A more contemporary, citrus-forward gin also works well and leans into the fresh character. Use something you enjoy, since the drink is light enough that the gin shows through.
Fresh lemon juice is the heart of it. This is a citrus drink, so bottled juice really will not do, it tastes flat and dull where fresh is bright and lively. Squeeze it just before you build.
Soda water does the lengthening, and it needs to be properly cold and freshly opened so the drink stays lively. Flat soda gives a tired, lifeless Collins. Add it last and stir only once to keep as much fizz as possible.
Sugar syrup balances the lemon. The measure here gives a nicely balanced drink, but you can adjust it up or down depending on how tart you like things. A simple 1:1 sugar syrup is all you need.
Variations Worth Trying
- Vodka Collins: swap the gin for vodka for a cleaner, more neutral version.
- John Collins: use bourbon in place of gin for a richer, whiskey-led take.
- Elderflower Collins: add a dash of elderflower liqueur for a floral twist.
- Raspberry Collins: muddle a few raspberries in before shaking for colour and fruit.
Skip the Mixing
A Tom Collins is one of the easier classics to make, and on a warm afternoon it is well worth the shaker. It still means fresh lemons, sugar syrup and a bottle of soda on the go, though, which is more than a quick drink sometimes calls for. When you want that crisp, citrus-led refreshment with nothing to squeeze, our Margarita hits a similar bright, zesty note, and the wider Boozy range is right here.
Tom Collins FAQs
What is in a Tom Collins?
Gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup and soda water, served tall over ice. It is essentially a lengthened, sparkling Gin Sour.
What is the difference between a Tom Collins and a Gin Fizz?
They are close cousins built from the same ingredients. A Tom Collins is traditionally served long in a tall glass over ice, while a Gin Fizz is usually shorter, served in a smaller glass and often without ice. The Collins is the more refreshing of the two.
Is a Tom Collins sweet?
It should be balanced rather than sweet, with the fresh lemon keeping it bright and crisp. You can adjust the sugar to taste, but it is meant to be a refreshing, tart drink.
Why has my Tom Collins gone flat?
Usually because the soda was not cold or fresh, or the drink was over-stirred. Add cold, freshly opened soda last and stir only once to keep it sparkling.
What gin is best for a Tom Collins?
A clean, balanced London dry gin works beautifully, though a citrus-forward contemporary gin leans nicely into the lemon. Use one you enjoy, since it shows through in such a light drink.
