Tom Collins

The Tom Collins is basically a sour in a tall glass with club soda or seltzer water. It is a classic cocktail that is enjoyed for its refreshing and citrusy flavor profile, often described as a "sparkling gin lemonade". It's a simple drink typically made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup (or sugar), and club soda.

The Tom Collins cocktail emerged in the mid-19th century as a refreshing concoction enjoyed by Americans during the summer heat. It was first written about by the famous Jerry Thomas in 1876 and then by Harry Johnson in 1882– so you see how far back the history goes! The origin tale is that a bartender named John Collins developed this cocktail and named it after himself– but everyone kept asking for a “Tom Collins” instead of a “John Collins” because it was often made with Old Tom gin. Whoops! Well, sorry John Collins, but the Tom Collins version is here to stay. Whatever you call it, it’s simply delicious. This gin drink quickly gained popularity and became a staple in cocktail culture. Over time, the original recipe evolved, but the Tom Collins retained its reputation as a timeless classic.

This is what is called a “build cocktail,” meaning you’ll skip the cocktail shaker and make it directly in the glass.

2 oz Dry Gin
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1 oz Simple Syrup (can substitute 2 teaspoons superfine sugar dissolved in the lemon juice)
3 oz Soda Water
1 ea Lemon Slice for garnish
1 ea Maraschino Cherry or fancy cocktail cherry, for garnish

Combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup directly into your tall glass. Add ice cubes and top with soda water. Give a light stir with your bar spoon. Garnish with a lemon wheel and/or cocktail cherry.