Tom Collins Cocktail

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

With one sip, you'll discover why the Tom Collins is a true classic. It's been a favorite cocktail for over a century and is basically a tall, refreshing gin sour that's incredibly easy to mix up.

The Tom Collins belongs to the Collins family of mixed drinks whose primary differences stem from the choice of the base liquor and, in this case, it's gin. It appears in the first bartending book, "Professor" Jerry Thomas' "Bon Vivant's Companion," but as with many classic cocktails, it's very likely that it was a hit years before the book's 1877 printing—some sources say this drink started earlier as a John Collins.

Back in Thomas' time, "gin" was often referred to as Old Tom Gin, Plymouth Gin, or Holland gin (known better as genever, today). If you want a taste of a Tom Collins made in the truly classic style, try it with one of those, but there are of, course, many more choices in gin. While you don't need to use the best, it will be better with something that's at least mid-shelf.

Beyond the gin, you will need lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda, which are likely to be in your bar or kitchen right now. (If you don't have club soda, seltzer will do.) Simplicity is one reason that the Tom Collins has long been a staple for drinkers worldwide.

tom collins cocktail

The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Margot Cavin, Food Stylist: Kristin Stangl

"The Tom Collins is the grandparent of the tall and fizzy cocktail category. It deserves every bit of its reputation. When you want something refreshing, particularly on a hot summer day, there is simply nothing better. This recipe strikes the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and bubbly, with just enough kick from the gin." —Tom Macy

Tom Collins cocktail in a glass with a cherry
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    tom collins ingredients gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Margot Cavin, Food Stylist: Kristin Stangl

  2. In a collins glass filled with ice cubes, pour the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.

    gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a rocks glass full of ice cubes

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Margot Cavin, Food Stylist: Kristin Stangl

  3. Stir thoroughly.

    ingredients for tom collins being stirred in collins glass

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Margot Cavin, Food Stylist: Kristin Stangl

  4. Top with club soda. Garnish with a cherry and an orange or lemon slice. You can also pin the cherry to the citrus fruit using a cocktail pick and create a garnish known as a flag.

    club soda being poured into glass with tom collins ingredients

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Margot Cavin, Food Stylist: Kristin Stangl

Tip

  • To serve, you can shake the gin, juice, and syrup instead of stirring, then strain it into a glass with fresh ice.

Recipe Variations

  • Replace the gin with whiskey to get a John Collins. Similarly, switch to the vodka Collins or the brandy Collins. A rum Collins uses white rum, but the Charlie Collins calls specifically for a Jamaican rum. You can also pour tequila for a tequila Collins.
  • Use the recipe formula to create fascinating cocktails with any extra flavors you like. The American Collins, for example, adds Bing cherries and blueberries to the gin recipe, while the lavender Sapphire Collins uses a floral syrup.
  • When you want something truly unique, try the rhubarb Collins with homemade rhubarb syrup.

How Strong Is a Tom Collins?

As with most soda highballs, the Tom Collins is a light drink. In fact, the majority of wines are stronger than this cocktail. On average, when made with an 80-proof gin, its alcohol content should be in the 9 percent ABV (18 proof) range. That's perfectly casual and the reason why this has long been a favorite recipe for happy hour.

Why Is It Called a Tom Collins?

The drink's name stems from the Tom Collins Hoax of 1874, whereby one person would tell another that someone with that name was speaking ill of him or her at a nearby bar or business, sending that person off to find such an individual and seek revenge. A clever bartender in New York decided to deliver a drink to someone looking for a so-called Tom Collins at his bar, and the name stuck.

What Is a Tom Collins Glass?

A collins glass is a tall, skinny glass that typically holds between 10 and 14 ounces. It's similar to a highball glass, and the two are sometimes used interchangeably for mixed drinks, especially bubbly drinks like the Tom Collins and highball.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
335 Calories
2g Fat
74g Carbs
8g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 335
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 22mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 74g 27%
Dietary Fiber 19g 69%
Total Sugars 27g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 361mg 1,805%
Calcium 194mg 15%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 981mg 21%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)