Tom Collins Cocktail

The Tom Collins is a classic cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup, topped with soda water. The original recipe used genever instead of gin and was created by a bartender named John Collins, who gave the cocktail its name. It is a beautifully balanced and refreshing drink that lends itself perfectly to personal variations.

How Do You Make a Tom Collins?

The classic Collins recipe uses genever as its base, but the Tom Collins is traditionally made with gin. In this recipe, we use Damrak Gin, an exceptionally smooth gin with pronounced citrus notes. Premium Valencia and Curaçao oranges contribute a subtle sweetness, while lemon peels provide balance and freshness.

Tom Collins Ingredients

• 60 ml Damrak Gin

• 30 ml Lemon Juice

• 15 ml Simple Syrup

• Top with Soda Water

Tom Collins Glassware and Equipment

• Collins Glass or Highball Glass

• Cocktail Shaker

• Jigger

• Strainer

Tom Collins Recipe

1. Pour all ingredients except the soda water into a cocktail shaker.

2. Fill the shaker two-thirds full with ice cubes.

3. Shake for approximately 10 seconds and strain into a glass filled with ice.

4. Top up with soda water.

5. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

A Real Crowd-Pleaser...

The Tom Collins is a true crowd-pleaser. With its brilliant simplicity, refreshing citrus notes, and a touch of gin, it is difficult to go wrong. This cocktail is suitable for any occasion, whether you're enjoying a sunny terrace with friends or starting an evening at your favorite cocktail bar.

The cocktail’s basic DNA also makes it incredibly easy to create variations. Simply swap the gin for your favorite spirit and the possibilities become endless.

History of the Tom Collins

The origins of this cocktail are credited to John Collins, a bartender who worked at Limmer’s Hotel in London during the early 19th century. The recipe was likely a variation of the then-popular Gin Punch, which omitted soda water but included a dash of Angostura bitters.

The cocktail was named after its creator, John Collins. As the drink grew in popularity, it was often prepared with Old Tom Gin rather than the genever originally used by Collins. Old Tom Gin is a sweeter style of gin, and it eventually gave the cocktail its new name: the Tom Collins.

Today, when referring to a Tom Collins, one would generally expect a London Dry-style gin as the base spirit. The Original Collins (or Dutch Collins), on the other hand, would be made with genever, such as Bols Genever.

This cocktail even gave its name to the glass in which it is traditionally served: the Collins glass. Collins glasses are tall, cylindrical glasses that typically hold between 355 and 474 ml.

The Best Tom Collins Recipe Variations

Variation 1 – Change the Base Spirit

As mentioned earlier, the Original Collins was first made with genever. The Tom Collins uses the same recipe but replaces the base with gin (typically London Dry or Old Tom Gin).

But why stop there?

Why not swap the base spirit for light rum and create a Pedro Collins? Or make a Pierre Collins by replacing the gin with cognac or brandy?

Variation 2 – Change the Sweetener

The classic Tom Collins uses simple syrup as its sweetener, but why not replace it with a liqueur? Make an Elderflower Collins

Bols Elderflower adds a wonderful floral sweetness to the cocktail that pairs beautifully with both gin and genever.

Bols Dry Orange is another excellent option, offering rich and complex orange flavors that complement both spirits perfectly.

Variation 3 – Change the Soda

Our classic Tom Collins recipe uses soda water, but you can add extra depth of flavor by substituting it with another sparkling mixer.

A great example is a combination of Bols Genever, Bols Dry Orange, lemon juice, and ginger beer.

With the fantastic range of craft sodas available today, the possibilities are virtually endless.