Tom Collins
The Tom Collins is a medium gin highball, tart and herbal on the palate. Shaken and served in a highball glass.
- 3 min
- Highball glass
- Shaken
Flavor profile
- Tart
- 52 out of 100
- Fruity
- 14 out of 100
- Bitter
- 14 out of 100
- Herbal
- 35 out of 100
- Boozy
- 35 out of 100
How to make a Tom Collins
To make a Tom Collins, shake with ice and strain into a highball glass: 2 oz gin, 1 oz lemon juice, ¼ oz simple syrup and 3 oz club soda. Garnish with maraschino cherry and orange.
You'll need
- Gin2 oz
- Lemon juice1 oz
- Simple syrupor 1 tsp sugar + a splash of water¼ oz
- Club soda3 oz
- Maraschino cherry, Orangegarnish
Pairs well with: Simple syrup · All syrups
Prefer it short? Skip the soda: that's the Gin Sour.
Make it virgin: the Virgin Tom Collins.
Instructions
- 1
Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.
- 2
Fill the shaker with ice.
- 3
Shake hard for 10-15 seconds, until the outside is frosty.
- 4
Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice cubes.
- 5
Top with club soda.
- 6
Give it one gentle stir.
- 7
Garnish with a maraschino cherry and an orange wheel.
Why shake? Lemon juice needs a hard shake to mix and chill properly.
No simple syrup? Muddle 1 tsp sugar with a splash of water in the shaker until it dissolves, then carry on.
Tom Collins questions
What does a Tom Collins taste like?
Mostly tart and herbal. It's a medium drink at about 10% ABV once mixed.
How strong is a Tom Collins?
About 10% ABV after mixing with ice, about as strong as a glass of wine.
What's the difference between a Tom Collins and a Gin Sour?
Both use gin, lemon juice and simple syrup. The Tom Collins adds club soda. Both are shaken, but the Tom Collins goes in a highball glass and the Gin Sour in a sour glass. The Gin Sour is the stronger of the two.
Can I make Tom Collinses in a batch?
Yes. For 6 drinks, mix 12 oz gin, 6 oz lemon juice and 1½ oz simple syrup in a jug and chill it. Add 7⅓ oz of cold water to stand in for the dilution from shaking. Top each glass with club soda as you serve, so it stays fizzy.
What glass do you serve a Tom Collins in?
A highball glass.