New York, United States

Tom Collins

Also known as Gin Collins, John Collins

A tall, fizzy gin sour that's crisp, tart, and dangerously easy to drink.

citrusginsourfizzyrefreshinghighballlemonsummer

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip hits you with sharp lemon and botanical gin, backed by a soft sweetness. The middle is all bubbly refreshment as the soda water lifts the flavors. It finishes clean and slightly tart, leaving you ready for the next sip.

Who will like it

For people who like bright, tart, highball-style drinks where the spirit plays nicely with citrus rather than dominating.

When to drink

This is a hot afternoon or brunch drink—basically anytime you'd reach for a cold lemonade but want a buzz.

Ordering tip

Ask for it with a specific gin if you have a preference; London Dry gives the classic dry snap, while something more floral will change the character entirely.

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

Flavor

Taste profile

This is a bright, tart, and fizzy drink that goes down like adult lemonade. The gin provides a botanical backbone, but the lemon and sugar do the heavy lifting, with the soda making it light and chuggable. It's not a complex sipper; it's a thirst quencher.

Finish: The finish is short and clean, leaving a lingering tartness and a faint echo of gin botanicals.

Primary tastes

soursweetherbal

Secondary

fruity

Aroma

juniperlemon zestbotanical

Bitternesslow bitterness
There is almost no bitterness, just a faint dry edge from the gin and quinine if you use tonic by mistake.
Sweetnessbalanced sweetness
The simple syrup takes the sharp edge off the lemon without making the drink taste sugary.
Sournessmoderately tart
The fresh lemon juice gives a bright, mouth-puckering tartness that defines the drink.
Strengthmoderate-low strength
The large volume of ice and soda dilutes the gin down to a sessionable, easy-drinking level.
Refreshingvery refreshing
Cold, citrusy, and highly carbonated, this is about as thirst-quenching as a cocktail gets.
Complexitystraightforward
It is a simple, three-note chord of gin, lemon, and sugar extended by soda, without deep layers.

Recipe

Make it at home

Shaken · Collins · equal parts on Gin. London Dry recommended for the classic crisp profile

Before you start

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

Ingredients

GinBase SpiritLondon Dry recommended for the classic crisp profile45ml
Lemon JuiceJuiceMust be freshly squeezed30ml
Simple SyrupSyrup1:1 ratio of sugar to water15ml
Soda WaterSodaCold, freshly opened60ml
Lemon SliceGarnish1 slice
Maraschino CherryGarnish1 cherry

Garnish: Lemon slice, Maraschino cherry

Tools

Cocktail Shaker · Shaking
To chill, dilute, and mix the gin, citrus, and syrup together
At home: A large mason jar with a tight lid
Hawthorne Strainer · Straining
To separate the ice from the liquid when pouring into the glass
At home: A fine mesh kitchen sieve
Jigger · Measuring
To measure the gin, lemon juice, and syrup accurately
At home: A measuring shot glass or measuring spoons
Bar Spoon · Mixing
To gently stir the soda water into the drink without killing the bubbles
At home: A long iced tea spoon or a chopstick
Collins Glass · Serving
The tall serving glass that holds the drink and ice
At home: A tall pint glass

Steps

1
Pour 45ml gin, 30ml fresh lemon juice, and 15ml simple syrup into your shaker. You don't need ice yet, just get the liquids in there together.
!Using bottled lemon juice makes the drink taste flat and artificially tart.
2
Fill the shaker about two-thirds full with ice, seal it tight, and shake hard for about 10 seconds. You'll know you're done when the outside of the metal shaker feels freezing cold and frosty.
~10s
!Shaking too softly leaves the drink under-chilled and not properly mixed.
3
Pop the shaker open and strain the liquid into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice. Leave about an inch of space at the top so you have room for the soda water.
!Filling the glass too high with ice leaves no room for the soda.
4
Pour 60ml of cold soda water gently down the inside of the glass to keep the bubbles intact. Give the drink one gentle stir from bottom to top with a bar spoon just to blend the soda through.
!Stirring too aggressively knocks all the carbonation out of the soda.
5
Slide a lemon slice onto the rim of the glass and drop a cherry into the drink. Serve it right away while it's still bubbling and cold.

Serve

Serve immediately in a tall Collins glass packed with ice, making sure the soda is still visibly fizzing when you hand it over.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

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

Swap options for Gin

GinVodka
Match
Common availability
Gin → Vodka: Removes the botanical and herbal notes, leaving a neutral, purely citrus-driven drink.
GinWhiskey
Match
Common availability
Gin → Whiskey: Turns it into a John Collins, adding warm, malty, and oaky flavors that make it richer.

Swap options for Lemon Juice

Lemon JuiceLime Juice
Match
Common availability
Lemon Juice → Lime Juice: Makes the drink sharper and slightly more bitter, pushing it toward a Gimlet-style profile.

Similar cocktails

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

Similar cocktail

John Collins

John Collins uses whiskey instead of gin, making it richer and maltier.

Match

The John Collins drinks heavier and more robust, while the Tom Collins stays light and botanical.

In common: Tall highball format, Citrus and soda refreshment, Shaken base with soda top

Ingredients

Both share

Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Soda Water

Only in Tom Collins

Gin

Only in John Collins

Whiskey

Swapping gin for whiskey changes the entire backbone of the drink from botanical and crisp to warm and oaky.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Tart lemon backbone, Fizzy soda lift, Balanced sweetness

How John Collins differs

Warmer, Maltier, Less herbal

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Gin Rickey

The Rickey uses lime instead of lemon and has no added sugar, making it drier.

Match

The Rickey is a bracing, bone-dry sipper, whereas the Tom Collins is softer and sweeter like a lemonade.

In common: Gin and soda base, Tall highball format, Highly refreshing

Ingredients

Both share

Gin, Soda Water

Only in Tom Collins

Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup

Only in Gin Rickey

Lime Juice

The Rickey drops the syrup entirely and swaps lemon for lime, stripping the drink down to a drier, sharper profile.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Botanical gin presence, Bubbly soda texture, Citrus brightness

How Gin Rickey differs

Drier, Sharper, More astringent

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

The drink emerged in the 1870s, likely named after the 'Tom Collins' hoax where people were tricked into looking for a fictional trash-talker. Jerry Thomas included a recipe in his 1876 bartending guide, cementing the gin sour variation as a standard.

Era: 1870s
IBA: The Unforgettables
Data version: IBA 2020 spec
Confidence

The exact ratio of lemon to sugar varies by taste; the IBA spec is 3:2:1 which is quite tart, often adjusted to equal parts lemon and syrup.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

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

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Mix the gin, lemon, and syrup ahead of time and keep in the fridge for easy pouring.
Always add the soda last and stir gently to keep the drink bubbly.
Use a 1:1 simple syrup so it mixes easily into cold liquids.
Taste the lemon juice first; if it's really tart, add a splash more syrup.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Don't shake the soda water or the drink will go flat instantly.
Don't use bottled lemon juice; it tastes metallic and lifeless.
Don't skip the ice in the serving glass; it keeps the soda fizzy longer.