Tom Collins Drink Recipe: Classic Gin Cocktail With Lemon and Soda 

A Tom Collins is a refreshing gin cocktail made with London Dry gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda, served tall over ice. It's light, citrusy, and perfectly balanced  easy enough for beginners and elegant enough for any occasion. Prep time: 5 minutes. Serves: 1.

What Is a Tom Collins?

A Tom Collins is a classic Collins-style cocktail traditionally made with gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and sparkling water. It belongs to the "fizz" family of cocktails, known for their refreshing, effervescent character. Light in alcohol and endlessly customizable, it's considered one of the most approachable classic cocktails.

The drink likely evolved from the "John Collins," a cocktail served at Limmer's Old House in London during the 1860s, which used Genever  a Dutch predecessor to modern gin. As English tastes shifted toward Old Tom Gin, the name changed accordingly. By the time Jerry Thomas published his recipe in 1876, the Tom Collins had already become a staple at bars across the United States.

What Are the Ingredients in a Tom Collins?

Tom Collins Ingredients (Single Serving)

• 2 oz (60 ml) London Dry gin
• 1 oz (30 ml) fresh lemon juice (approximately 1 medium lemon)
• ¾ oz (22 ml) simple syrup (1:1 sugar-to-water ratio)
• 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) cold club soda or sparkling water
• Ice  plenty of it, cubed preferred
• Garnish: lemon wheel or slice, maraschino cherry (optional orange slice)

How to Make a Tom Collins: Step-by-Step Recipe

1. Chill your glass. Fill your Collins glass with ice before you start mixing. This keeps the drink colder, longer.
2. Combine the base ingredients. Add the gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.
3. Add ice and shake. Fill the shaker with ice and shake firmly for 10–12 seconds. You want the mixture well-chilled and slightly diluted  this softens the edges without watering it down.
4. Strain into your glass. Strain the shaken mixture over the fresh ice in your Collins glass.
5. Top with club soda. Pour 3–4 oz of cold club soda slowly down the side of the glass to preserve the carbonation.
6. Stir gently. One or two light stirs is enough to combine without killing the bubbles.
7. Garnish and serve. Add a lemon wheel and maraschino cherry. Serve immediately.

What Are the Best Variations of a Tom Collins?

The Tom Collins is a framework as much as it is a recipe. Swap the base spirit and you have an entirely different drink   same approachable structure, completely new personality.

To adjust to taste: add ¼ oz more simple syrup for a sweeter drink, or an extra squeeze of lemon for more tartness. The base 2:1:¾ ratio (gin: lemon: syrup) is a reliable starting point  not a hard rule.

What Are the Pro Tips for Making the Perfect Tom Collins?

The biggest factors in a great Tom Collins are using fresh lemon juice (never bottled), choosing a quality London Dry gin, and adding club soda last to keep the carbonation intact. Proper chilling and a generous amount of ice also make a noticeable difference in the final drink.

• Use fresh lemon juice, always. Bottled lemon juice contains preservatives that flatten the flavor and introduce a slight bitterness. Fresh juice makes a measurable difference  this is non-negotiable.
• Choose the right gin. London Dry gin (Tanqueray, Beefeater, Hendrick's) is the standard choice. For a more historically accurate Collins, Old Tom Gin is slightly sweeter and closer to what was used in the original 1876 recipe.
• Make your own simple syrup. Combine equal parts sugar and hot water, stir until dissolved, and cool. It takes three minutes and keeps in the fridge for up to a month.
• Don't skip the shake. Some bartenders build a Tom Collins directly in the glass, but shaking the gin, lemon, and syrup first produces a better-integrated, better-chilled result.
• Add soda last, pour slow. Club soda should always go in after straining. Pour it down the inside edge of the glass to minimize CO₂ loss.
• Avoid over-dilution. Shake for 10–12 seconds  not longer. Over-shaking melts too much ice and weakens the drink.

What Foods Pair Well With a Tom Collins?

The Tom Collins' citrus-forward, effervescent profile makes it a natural companion for light, fresh foods. Its acidity cuts through fat and salt, similar to how sparkling wine works at the dinner table.

Best food pairings:

• Oysters and raw seafood
• Grilled fish (salmon, sea bass, sole)
• Light seafood pastas and risottos
• Mediterranean mezze (hummus, olives, light dips)
• Soft cheeses, bruschetta, and summer salads
• Lemon or herb-based appetizers

Best occasions: Garden parties, summer brunches, pre-dinner aperitivos, and warm-weather entertaining. The Tom Collins also works as a lower-ABV alternative to heavier cocktails at events where guests are pacing themselves.

Can You Make a Tom Collins Ahead of Time?

Yes. To batch a Tom Collins for a party, combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in advance and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add club soda only when serving  never store the carbonated version, as it will go flat within minutes.

Batch recipe (serves 8):

• 2 cups London Dry gin
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• ¾ cup simple syrup
• Cold club soda to top each glass individually

Refrigerate the base mixture in a sealed pitcher for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, pour approximately 3¾ oz of the base over a glass of ice and top with 3–4 oz club soda per serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Tom Collins taste like?
A Tom Collins is refreshing, citrusy, and lightly sweet with a clean effervescence from the club soda. The gin adds botanical depth  juniper, citrus peel, or floral notes depending on the brand used.

What is the difference between a Tom Collins and a gin fizz?
Both use gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda. The key differences: a gin fizz is shaken with the soda and served without ice, while a Tom Collins is shaken without soda, strained over ice, and topped with club soda in a taller glass.

How many calories are in a Tom Collins?
A standard Tom Collins made with 2 oz gin, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and ¾ oz simple syrup contains approximately 190 calories. Reducing the simple syrup to ½ oz brings it closer to 165 calories.

What is the best gin for a Tom Collins?
London Dry gin is the most commonly recommended choice. Tanqueray, Beefeater, and Hendrick's are popular options. For a historically accurate version, use Old Tom Gin  it's slightly sweeter and closer to the 1876 original.

Can I make a non-alcoholic Tom Collins?
Yes. Replace the gin with a non-alcoholic spirit alternative (such as Seedlip or Monday Zero Alcohol Gin), keep the fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, and top with club soda. The result is a refreshing mocktail with similar flavors.

How long does a Tom Collins stay fresh once made?
A completed Tom Collins (with club soda added) should be consumed immediately  within 10–15 minutes  before the carbonation dissipates. The base mixture of gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours before adding soda.

Can I use lime juice instead of lemon juice in a Tom Collins?
Lime juice works as a substitute, but it produces a sharper, more tart result. The flavor profile shifts noticeably, resulting in something closer to a Gimlet fizz. Lemon juice is strongly preferred for the classic version.

What glass should a Tom Collins be served in?
A Tom Collins is traditionally served in a Collins glass  a tall, narrow glass holding 10–14 oz. A highball glass is an acceptable substitute if a Collins glass isn't available.

How much gin is in a standard Tom Collins?
A standard Tom Collins uses 2 oz (60 ml) of gin per serving. The IBA (International Bartenders Association) specifies 4.5 cl (approximately 1.5 oz) in their official recipe, though most modern recipes use 2 oz for a more spirit-forward result.

Is the Tom Collins a strong cocktail?
Not particularly. At 2 oz of gin diluted with lemon juice, syrup, and 3–4 oz of club soda, a Tom Collins typically reaches around 12–14% ABV in the glass  comparable to a glass of wine. It's considered a session-friendly cocktail.