Tom Collins Recipe

 

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin (London Dry recommended)
• 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
• ¾ oz Simple Syrup
• Top with soda water.
• Garnish: Lemon wheel and cherry

Best Tom Collins Recipe—Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

A clear view of all the necessary Tom Collins ingredients laid out on a clean surface. This includes a bottle of gin, fresh lemons, simple syrup in a small pitcher, a glass with ice, a bottle of soda water, a jigger for measuring, and garnishes (lemon wheel and cherry) on a small plate.

🛒 What You’ll Need:

Libbey Collins Glasses

OXO Jigger

Cocktail Bar Spoon

Simple Collins Recipe—Step 2: Add Gin to the Glass

A landscape image showing a jigger being used to measure 2 oz of gin and pour it into a tall glass filled with ice. The gin is clear and visible as it goes into the glass.

Tom Collins Recipe (ml)—Step 3: Add Fresh Lemon Juice

A landscape shot of a hand squeezing fresh lemon juice from a halved lemon into the same glass containing gin and ice. You can see the juice dripping into the glass. Alternatively, a jigger measuring 1 oz of lemon juice being poured can be shown.

Tom Collins Mix—Step 4: Add Simple Syrup

A landscape image showing a jigger measuring ¾ oz of simple syrup being poured into the glass with the gin and lemon juice. The simple syrup is clear and slightly viscous.

Collins's recipe is easy: Step 5: Stir Gently.

A landscape view of a bar spoon gently stirring the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup together in the ice-filled glass.

John Collins drink/Vodka Collins recipe—Step 6: Top with soda water.

A landscape image showing soda water being poured from a bottle into the glass over the ice and the mixed ingredients, filling the remainder of the glass. You can see the fizz of the soda water.

✨ For the perfect fizz: Use a premium soda like Q Mixers Club Soda for better bubbles and a crisp finish.

Tom Collins Ingredients—Step 7: Garnish and Serve

A landscape close-up of the finished Tom Collins cocktail, garnished with a lemon wheel on the rim of the glass and a cherry dropped into the drink. The glass is slightly frosted, indicating it's cold and refreshing.

Answers to your questions:

• What is Collins mix made of? There isn't a premade "Collins mix" in the same way there is a sour mix. A Collins cocktail is made fresh with gin (or vodka for a Vodka Collins, etc.), fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and topped with carbonated water.
• What makes something a Collins? A "Collins" cocktail is typically defined by its base spirit (usually gin), lemon juice, sweetener (usually simple syrup), and being topped with carbonated water, served in a tall glass (a Collins glass) over ice, and often garnished with a lemon wheel and a cherry.
• What is a vodka Collins made of? A Vodka Collins is made with vodka instead of gin, along with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, and topped with soda water. It is garnished similarly to a Tom Collins, with a lemon wheel and a cherry.
• How to make a Tom Collins recipe? To make a Tom Collins, combine gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup in a tall glass filled with ice. Stir to chill, then top with soda water. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a cherry. The specific measurements are usually around 2 oz gin, 1 oz lemon juice, and ¾ oz simple syrup, topped with soda water to fill.