Beat the heat with a Tom Collins cocktail, the grown-up lemonade perfect for sipping on long, hot summer days.

Looking for a classic gin cocktail?

The Tom Collins is your answer – a lemony cocktail one mint leaf away from being a southside cocktail or a lemon drop cocktail but made with gin instead of vodka. It’s as refreshing as a lemonade stand on a hot day, with a sophisticated citrus kick.

Who says a grown-up cocktail has to be complicated? This homemade Tom Collins is the answer to your prayers (and your summer thirst) – all you need are a few simple ingredients and a yearning for something cool, refreshing, and decidedly boozy.

🎥 Watch: How to Make the Best Tom Collins Drink

What Is a Tom Collins Cocktail?

The Tom Collins, a refreshing gin cocktail with lemon, boasts a surprisingly complex history. While the origin of the Tom Collins cocktail remains debated, here’s a breakdown of the key theories:

The first documented “Tom Collins” cocktail recipe appears in Jerry Thomas’ 1876 book, “The Bartender’s Guide.” Interestingly, it wasn’t a single recipe but a category of drinks featuring various base spirits alongside the “Tom Collins” name (e.g., Tom Collins-brandy). This suggests similar cocktails might have existed earlier under a different moniker.

Adding to the mystery is a legendary New York prank from 1874 called the Great Tom Collins hoax. A fictional “Tom Collins” supposedly bad mouthed people at bars, leading to frantic searches and, ultimately, frustrated requests for a “Tom Collins” drink – a combination of gin, lemon juice, sugar, and soda water – from unsuspecting bartenders. Newspapers even fell for the practical joke, further solidifying the name “Tom Collins” in public consciousness.

Historian David Wondrich proposes a fascinating theory: the Tom Collins might be an evolution of an earlier drink called the “John Collins.” John Collins, a head waiter at the Limmer’s Hotel in London in the 1870s, might have served a similar gin-based cocktail. This theory suggests the name “Tom Collins” emerged as gin preferences shifted, with bartenders opting for drier London Dry Gin over the sweeter Old Tom Gin used in the “John Collins.”

The Tom Collins belongs to a larger cocktail family – drinks featuring gin, citrus, sugar, and a bubbly soda finish. These include the Gin Fizz (with a slightly higher lemon content) and variations using different base spirits like vodka (Vodka Collins).

What you’ll love about this recipe:

SIMPLY DELICIOUS: The Tom Collins is a dream for cocktail novices and experts alike. Fresh ingredients and a straightforward recipe make it a breeze to whip up, yet the balance of sweet, tart, and boozy flavors is guaranteed to impress.
REFRESHING REVIVAL: On a scorching summer day, there’s nothing quite like a Tom Collins. The citrusy kick and light, bubbly finish are pure refreshment, instantly transporting you to a cooler state of mind.

What You Need to Make a Tom Collins Cocktail

Gin: This is the base spirit, the boozy backbone of the cocktail. Gin’s botanicals, like juniper berries and citrus peels, add a complex flavor that pairs beautifully with the other ingredients.
Lemon Juice: This provides the tart citrus flavor that’s essential to the Tom Collins’ refreshing taste. It also helps to balance the sweetness of the simple syrup.
Simple Syrup: This is just sugar dissolved in water. It adds sweetness to the drink but in a more controlled way than just plain sugar. Simple syrup blends smoothly, preventing a gritty texture.
Club Soda: This bubbly water adds a refreshing fizz to the cocktail, making it light and enjoyable to sip on a hot day. It also helps to dilute the alcohol slightly.
Lemon Slice (Garnish): This adds a pop of color and a touch of citrus aroma to the drink. You can also express (squeeze) the oils from the lemon peel over the drink before dropping it in for an extra citrusy touch.

How to Make a Tom Collins Cocktail

Fill a Tom Collins glass with ice.
Add the gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon slice.

Expert Recipe Tips

A lemon slice is the classic garnish, but feel free to get creative! An orange slice adds a touch of sweetness, while a maraschino cherry brings a pop of color. You can even get fancy with a sprig of fresh mint.
The Tom Collins is perfect for a crowd. Just pre-make a large pitcher (minus the club soda) and keep it chilled in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, portion it out into glasses filled with ice, top with club soda, and garnish!

How to serve this cocktail

The Tom Collins is a refreshing summer sipper, perfect for enjoying on a hot afternoon or evening, ideally served in a tall glass with plenty of ice.

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The Tom Collins is the answer to your summer woes and the perfect companion for a long afternoon spent complaining about the humidity. It’s classy, it’s refreshing, and it’s guaranteed to make you feel a little more pulled-together than that store-bought margarita mix ever could. If you try this recipe, please rate the recipe card and leave a comment below to help out the next reader!

Prep Time:5

Total Time:5

Equipment

cocktail shaker
fine mesh strainer
Stirring spoon
alcohol measuring cup

Ingredients

2 oz dry gin
1 oz simple syrup
1 oz lemon juice
Club soda
Lemon slice for garnish

Instructions

Fill a collins glass with ice.
Add the gin, simple syrup and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon slice.

Video

Servings: 1

Calories: 213kcal

Recipe FAQs

Craving the Tom Collins experience without the alcohol? Substitute the gin with club soda for a refreshing “Virgin Tom Collins.” You can also explore using flavored sparkling waters for a fun twist.

Yes! Making simple syrup for your Tom Collins is a breeze! Here’s how:

Combine equal parts sugar and water (e.g., 1 cup each) in a small saucepan.
Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.
Remove from heat and let cool completely before using.

The Tom Collins traditionally uses a dry gin. This means a juniper-forward gin, like London Dry Gin, that boasts a crisp and botanical flavor profile. These characteristics complement the tart citrus and sweetness of the other ingredients in the cocktail.

Tom Collins Cocktail