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Tom Collins
DifficultyBeginner
Mix up a Tom Collins cocktail with this easy, effervescent recipe featuring gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda. This timeless highball drink is zesty, slightly sweet, and topped with bubbles — the perfect choice for spring and summer sipping.
Garnish: Lemon wheel and maraschino or brandied cherry
1
Fill a Collins glass with ice.
Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds.
Strain into the prepared glass.
Top with club soda and stir gently to combine.
Garnish with a lemon wheel and a cherry on top.
Pairing Suggestions
2
Grilled shrimp skewers
Goat cheese salad
Fried calamari or fish & chips
Lemon herb chicken wings
Cucumber tea sandwiches
Its citrusy sparkle and clean gin base make it a versatile match for light, summery foods.
Tips & Notes
3
Use fresh lemon juice — bottled lemon juice will flatten the flavor.
Shake before topping: Never shake with soda; add it after straining to preserve bubbles.
Adjust sweetness: Use more or less syrup based on your citrus preferences.
Try it with flavored soda like cucumber or elderflower for a twist.
Chill the soda: Cold club soda will preserve fizz better when topping the cocktail.
Side Info
4
The Tom Collins was first published in Jerry Thomas’ 1876 bartending guide, though its origins likely trace to England. A cousin to the Gin Fizz, it’s a prime example of the "Collins-style" cocktail — spirit, citrus, sweetener, and fizz — served tall and light.
Garnish: Lemon wheel and maraschino or brandied cherry
Directions
1
Fill a Collins glass with ice.
Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds.
Strain into the prepared glass.
Top with club soda and stir gently to combine.
Garnish with a lemon wheel and a cherry on top.
Pairing Suggestions
2
Grilled shrimp skewers
Goat cheese salad
Fried calamari or fish & chips
Lemon herb chicken wings
Cucumber tea sandwiches
Its citrusy sparkle and clean gin base make it a versatile match for light, summery foods.
Tips & Notes
3
Use fresh lemon juice — bottled lemon juice will flatten the flavor.
Shake before topping: Never shake with soda; add it after straining to preserve bubbles.
Adjust sweetness: Use more or less syrup based on your citrus preferences.
Try it with flavored soda like cucumber or elderflower for a twist.
Chill the soda: Cold club soda will preserve fizz better when topping the cocktail.
Side Info
4
The Tom Collins was first published in Jerry Thomas’ 1876 bartending guide, though its origins likely trace to England. A cousin to the Gin Fizz, it’s a prime example of the "Collins-style" cocktail — spirit, citrus, sweetener, and fizz — served tall and light.
