This Tom Collins is light, crisp, and perfectly refreshing. It’s a classic gin cocktail with fresh lemon juice, a touch of sweetness, and bubbly soda water to top it off.
Party tip: Prepare Ahead!
The Tom Collins is a classic cocktail made with gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda water. It’s one of the easiest cocktails to make at home, requires no shaker, and it’s a great starting point if you’re new to gin drinks or want something simple and refreshing.
The beauty of this cocktail is in its ratio. You can follow a simple 2-1-1 formula: 2 parts gin, 1 part fresh lemon juice, and 1 part simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, heated until dissolved, then cooled). Top it off with soda water and you’re done. From there, you can taste and adjust, cutting back the sweetness or adding extra lemon according to what you like.
A Tom Collins is traditionally served in a Collins glass, which is a tall, narrow glass that’s perfect for drinks with plenty of ice and soda. You can keep the garnish simple with just a lemon slice, but I love the pop of color and hint of almond flavor that a maraschino cherry brings. If you enjoy this style of drink, also try my lemon drop cocktail for something in the same citrusy family but a bit more punchy, or a French 75 if you want to swap the soda for champagne.
Just a few ingredients
Here’s how it’s made
- Fill a Collins glass (or any tall glass) with ice.
- Add the gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Top with soda water and give it a gentle stir to combine. Garnish with a lemon slice and a maraschino cherry if you like.
Tips
More gin cocktails
If you love gin, check out more of my gin cocktail recipes. Here are a few favorites:
Tom Collins Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin Old Tom or London Dry gin
- 1 oz lemon juice fresh
- 1 oz simple syrup
- Soda water
- Ice
- Lemon slice for garnish
- Maraschino cherry optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a Collins glass with ice.
- Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Top with soda water and stir gently.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and cherry and serve
Notes
- Simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water, heated until dissolved, then cooled.
- Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor. One medium lemon yields about 1 oz (30 ml) of juice.
- A Collins glass is the traditional choice, but any tall glass works.
- Old Tom gin is the traditional spirit for a Tom Collins, with a slightly sweeter profile. London Dry gin works just as well for a crisper, more juniper-forward version.
- Stir gently after adding the soda water to keep the fizz alive.
- For a fruitier version, try adding a splash of homemade sweet and sour mix in place of the simple syrup and lemon juice.
