Tom Collins

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A classic Tom Collins is delicious, thirst-quenching gin cocktail that’s as bubbly and refreshing as a glass of sparkling lemonade.

Tom collins in two clear glasses on a silver tray.

Recipe ingredients:

Tom Collins cocktail ingredients grouped together and labeled.

Step-by-step instructions:

  1. To make one cocktail, combine 2 ounces of gin with ¾ ounces of lemon juice and ½ ounce of simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
    Clear liquid being poured into a silver shaker.
  2. Fill the shaker with ice, close, and shake vigorously. If you’ve pre-chilled some tall glasses, take one out of the refrigerator and fill it with fresh ice.
  3. Strain the cocktail into the glass. Top with 2 ounces of club soda and garnish with a lemon and a cherry, if you have it.
Tom collins in a clear glass with a lemon and cherry.

Recipe tips and variations:

  • Glassware: Collins glass is a tall, thin, straight-sided 12-ounce glass.
  • Simple syrup: Combine equal parts granulated sugar and warm water (ie, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water) and stir to combine. Cool completely.
  • Vodka Collins: A cocktail made with vodka instead of gin.
  • Tom Collins with grenadine: If you like a sweeter drink, float a little grenadine on top.
  • Rum Collins: Use rum and either lemon or lime juice.

More fun cocktails:

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Tom collins in two clear glasses on a silver tray.

Tom Collins

A classic Tom Collins is delicious, thirst-quenching gin cocktail that’s as bubbly and refreshing as a glass of sparkling lemonade. 
Cook Time 2 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Servings 1 cocktail
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Calories 96
5 from 1 vote

Ingredients 

  • 2 ounces gin (¼ cup)
  • 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice (1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon)
  • 1/2 ounce simple syrup (1 tablespoon, see notes)
  • Ice as needed
  • 2 ounces club soda (¼ cup) or more if desired
  • 1 lemon wheel for garnish, optional
  • 1 maraschino cherry for garnish, optional

Instructions 

  • Chill glassware if desired: Coat the outside of a glass with water and freeze until serving time. Or, freeze dry glassware for 2 to 3 hours before serving.
  • In a cocktail shaker, add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Fill shaker with ice, cover, and shake until outside of shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds.
  • Fill chilled glass with ice, then strain cocktail into glass. Top with club soda and garnish with a skewered lemon wheel and maraschino cherry if desired.

Notes

  1. Glassware: Collins glass is a tall, thin, straight-sided 12-ounce glass.
  2. Simple syrup: Combine equal parts granulated sugar and warm water (ie, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water) and stir to combine. Cool completely.
  3. Vodka Collins: A cocktail made with vodka instead of gin.
  4. Tom Collins with grenadine: If you like a sweeter drink, float a little grenadine on top.
  5. Rum Collins: Use rum and either lemon or lime juice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cocktailCalories: 96kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 28mgPotassium: 235mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin C: 11mgIron: 1mg
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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