Rum Collins

Also known as Juan Collins, Ron Collins

A Rum Collins is basically a Tom Collins that swapped out gin for light rum, giving you a lighter, sweeter summer cooler.

rumcitrusfizzysourrefreshingsummertalllemon

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip hits with bright, sharp lemon that quickly softens into the mellow sweetness of the rum. The middle is all crisp bubbles and cold ice, washing the palate clean. It finishes short and refreshing with just a lingering hint of sugarcane.

Who will like it

This is for people who like tall, fizzy, sour drinks but want something lighter and less herbal than a gin-based Collins.

When to drink

Drink this on a hot afternoon or as a starter cocktail before a summer dinner.

Ordering tip

Ask for a specific aged rum instead of the default well rum if you want a bit more depth and vanilla in the drink.

Ice: CubedTemp: ColdCost: $2–$5Glass: CollinsBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This is a simple, bright, and fizzy drink that leans heavily on the interplay between tart lemon and sweet syrup. The rum provides a subtle, clean backbone without demanding too much attention. It goes down easy and fast, making it a classic hot-weather thirst quencher.

Finish: The finish is short and crisp, leaving a lingering lemon zest and faint sugarcane sweetness.

Primary tastes

sweetsourfruity

Secondary

earthy

Aroma

citrussugarcaneeffervescence

Sweetnessbalanced sweetness
The simple syrup balances the lemon juice without making the drink cloying.
Sournessmoderately sour
Fresh lemon juice gives it a sharp, mouth-watering tartness that defines the drink.
Strengthmoderate strength
A standard pour of rum diluted with ice and soda makes this an easy-sipping drink.
Refreshingvery refreshing
Cold soda water and citrus over ice make this extremely thirst-quenching.
Complexitylow complexity
It's a straightforward mix of rum, citrus, and bubbles without layered flavors.

Recipe

Make it at home

Shaken · Collins · equal parts on Light Rum. White or lightly aged rum works best

Before you start

Make sure your soda water is well chilled and have your Collins glass ready to go before you start shaking.

Ingredients

Light RumBase Spirit45ml
Lemon JuiceJuiceFreshly squeezed30ml
Simple SyrupSyrup1:1 ratio of sugar to water15ml
Soda WaterSodaChilled90ml
Lemon SliceGarnish1 slice
Maraschino CherryoptionalGarnish1 cherry

Garnish: Lemon slice, Maraschino cherry

Tools

Jigger · Measuring
Measuring the rum, lemon juice, and syrup accurately
At home: Measuring spoons or a small shot glass
Cocktail Shaker · Shaking
Chilling and mixing the rum, citrus, and syrup with ice
At home: A large mason jar with a tight lid
Hawthorne Strainer · Straining
Straining the ice out of the shaker into the glass
At home: A slotted spoon or fine mesh sieve
Bar Spoon · Mixing
Gently stirring the soda water into the drink without killing the bubbles
At home: A long dinner knife or chopstick
Collins Glass · Serving
Holding the tall, fizzy drink and plenty of ice
At home: Any tall glass or pint glass

Steps

1
Measure and pour 45ml light rum, 30ml fresh lemon juice, and 15ml simple syrup into your cocktail shaker. This is the sour base of your drink, so get the measurements right.
!Using bottled lemon juice leaves the drink tasting flat and metallic.
2
Fill the shaker about three-quarters full with ice, seal it tight, and shake hard for about 10 seconds until the outside of the metal feels frosty. This chills and dilutes the mix perfectly.
~10s
!Shaking too softly leaves the drink warm and not properly mixed.
3
Fill a tall Collins glass to the top with fresh ice cubes. Dump out any meltwater if you used the glass to chill it beforehand.
!Using too little ice makes the drink warm up and go flat fast.
4
Pop the shaker open and strain the liquid into the Collins glass over the ice, filling it about three-quarters of the way up. You want to leave room for the soda.
5
Top the drink off with chilled soda water, pouring gently down the side of the glass so you don't kill the fizz. Give it one gentle stir from bottom to top with a bar spoon just to mix the soda through.
!Stirring too aggressively after adding soda will knock all the carbonation out.
6
Slide a lemon slice onto the rim of the glass and drop a cherry right into the drink. Serve it right away while it's still bubbling.

Serve

Serve it immediately while it's still highly carbonated and ice-cold, before the ice melts and waters down the fizz.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Light Rum

Light RumAged Rum
Match
Common availability
Light Rum → Aged Rum: Adds vanilla and caramel notes, making the drink richer and darker.
Light RumDark Rum
Match
Common availability
Light Rum → Dark Rum: Brings a heavier, molasses-forward flavor that can overpower the light citrus.

Swap options for Lemon Juice

Lemon JuiceLime Juice
Match
Common availability
Lemon Juice → Lime Juice: Shifts the sourness to a sharper, more tropical profile.

Swap options for Simple Syrup

Simple SyrupAgave Nectar
Match
Common availability
Simple Syrup → Agave Nectar: Adds a slightly earthy sweetness and thicker mouthfeel.

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Similar cocktail

Tom Collins

Uses gin instead of rum, adding herbal and pine notes.

Match

The Rum Collins is softer and less botanical than the gin version, making it an easier sipper for those who dislike piney flavors.

In common: Collins structure, tall fizzy sour

Ingredients

Both share

Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Soda Water

Only in Rum Collins

Light Rum

Only in Tom Collins

Gin

The only difference is the base spirit, swapping sugarcane for juniper.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Bright citrus tartness, effervescent texture, sweet finish

How Tom Collins differs

Lighter, less herbal, sweeter backbone

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Mojito

Mojitos use lime and mint muddled with sugar instead of lemon and syrup.

Match

A Mojito is more herbaceous and has a sharper citrus bite from the lime, while the Rum Collins is purely sweet and sour.

In common: Rum base, fizzy, refreshing

Ingredients

Both share

Light Rum, Soda Water

Only in Rum Collins

Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup

Only in Mojito

Lime Juice, Mint Leaves, Sugar

The Mojito swaps lemon for lime and adds mint, skipping the syrup for muddled sugar.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Rum sweetness, citrus sourness, bubbly refreshment

How Mojito differs

Herbal mint flavor, sharper lime acidity, less syrupy texture

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Daiquiri

A Daiquiri is served short without ice or soda.

Match

The Daiquiri is a tighter, boozier sip without the lengthening effect of the soda water.

In common: Rum sour, refreshing

Ingredients

Both share

Light Rum, Simple Syrup

Only in Rum Collins

Lemon Juice, Soda Water

Only in Daiquiri

Lime Juice

The Daiquiri uses lime instead of lemon and drops the soda water for a concentrated short drink.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Sweet and sour rum profile, clean finish

How Daiquiri differs

Stronger, more concentrated, no fizz

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

The Rum Collins is a direct variation of the Tom Collins, substituting rum for gin. The Collins family of drinks originated in the late 19th century, and spirit swaps like this became standard as the template spread globally.

Era: early 1900s
Confidence

The Rum Collins is a well-established variation of the Tom Collins, though not an IBA official cocktail itself.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Use fresh lemon juice; the bottled stuff tastes flat and metallic.
Add the soda water last and stir gently to keep the bubbles.
Chill your glass in the freezer for a few minutes before making the drink.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Don't shake the soda water or it will explode and go flat.
Avoid cheap, overly sweet rum; it will make the drink cloying.