Tom Collins

The Tom Collins is a classic gin cocktail that dates back to the 1880s. The epitome of simplicity and proof that less is often more. A classic Tom Collins drink is made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and soda water. And it’s just perfect.

“You get that nice hint of lemon, beautiful gin, with the Juniper coming through nicely, all balanced out with the sugar and a nice bit of effervescence from the soda. It’s a perfect drink for the summer,” says Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.

“This is one of those drinks that has a disputed origin. No one knows really where it comes from,” shares Rico. Some say it was invented in the UK, others say it was invented in the US. “All I know is that this drink is banging,” says Rico.

The earliest publication of any Collins or Fizz recipe can be found in an 1882 bartender’s manual, featuring both a Tom Collins, which calls for Old Tom Gin, and a John Collins, which calls for Holland Gin (known today as Genièvre).

A drink known as a John Collins has been around since at least the 1860s and is believed to have originated with a head waiter of that name who worked at a popular London hotel and coffee house around 1790–1817.

That cocktail is very similar to the Tom Collins we know today and originally contained Old Tom Gin. Due to the use of this specific Gin, some suggest that the name eventually changed to Tom Collins.

• Use your preferred gin
  As Rico shares in the video, the original recipe for a Tom Collins calls for Old Tom Gin but Rico makes his with Beefeater London Dry Gin.

  If you have a preferred Gin, use that when making your Tom Collins. Taste is personal and your drink is your drink.

• Use fresh lemon juice
  We’ve said it a million times and we’ll say it again – always use fresh juice, not store bought stuff. The difference it makes to your drink cannot be overstated. Skip the bottled stuff, grab a citrus press and some lemons and get juicing!

A quick Google search will reveal there are as many Tom Collins variations as there are bartenders crafting them. It would be impossible for us to list every variation, so, instead, we’ll list a few of our favorites:

• Elderflower Collins
  As if the Tom Collins wasn’t already a summer-perfect drink, along comes the Elderflower Collins. Instead of Gin, the Elderflower Collins uses Absolut Vodka but reintroduces the herbal elements with the addition of Elderflower Cordial instead. Lemon Juice, Elderflower, Soda Water and Vodka – now that’s a summer drink! Here’s how to make an Elderflower Collins.
• Colonel Collins (aka Bourbon Collins)
  Swapping Gin for Bourbon, the Colonel Collins is a delightful variation of the Tom Collins where the Lemon and Bourbon combine beautifully to create a fantastic late-night sipper. Take a look at our Colonel Collins recipe.
• Brandy Collins
  Prefer Cognac to Gin? Simply follow the Tom Collins recipe on this page but swap the Gin for Cognac for a completely different taste profile. Discover how to make a Brandy Collins.
• Rum Collins
  Maybe you prefer the taste of Cuban Rum instead of Gin, Bourbon or Brandy? Whatever the case may be, this deliciously rich Rum variation of a classic Tom Collins is highly recommended. Here’s how to make a Rum Collins.
• Absolut Mandrin Collins
  The Absolut Mandrin Collins elevates the citrus flavors of a classic Tom Collins by blending Lemon Juice with the rich, mature Mandarin notes of Absolut Mandrin (Mandarin-Flavored Vodka). Garnished with both a Lemon Wedge and an Orange Wedge, this Tom Collins variation is so citrusy good.

• Orange Blossom Collins
  This variation gives the Tom Collins fruity and juicy twist mixing Gin, Fresh Pressed Orange Juice, Simple Syrup and Soda Water. Another summer essential! Here’s our recipe for an Orange Blossom Collins.
• Joe Collins
  Here’s another Tom Collins variation with Vodka instead of Gin. But that’s not all, it also mixes Fresh Lime Juice in addition to Lemon Juice and a dash of Bitters for a truly unique and citrusy variation. Sip and enjoy! Here’s how to make a Joe Collins.
• Passionfruit Collins
  A personal favorite, the Passionfruit Collins mixes the deliciousness of Absolut Passionfruit Vodka together with Fresh Lemon Juice, Sugar Syrup, Passionfruit Liqueur and Soda Water. If you have a passion for Passion Fruit, this is your drink. Discover our Passionfruit Collins recipe.

• Few cocktails have a glass named after them, but the Tom Collins does. That’s why a Tom Collins should be served in nothing less than a Collins Glass, of course!

• Rico likes to garnish a Tom Collins with Lemon Zest, but, as he explains, you can switch it up with Orange or any zest you prefer. With lemon juice already in the mix, adding lemon zest ensures what you see is what you taste, enhancing the citrus notes and perfectly syncing the look and flavor of this classic cocktail.

A Collins Glass is similar to a Highball Glass but is taller and narrower.  A Collins Glass holds approx. 300 to 410 milliliters (10 to 14 US fl oz). Truth be told, the Collins Glass and a Highball Glass are often used interchangeably.

Read this article to learn more about the different types of cocktail glassware.

Both drinks are Gin-based classics. Tom Collins is on the sweeter side while a G&T is a little more tart. A Tom Collins mixes Gin, Fresh Lemon Juice, a hint of Simple Syrup and is topped up with Soda Water, whereas a Gin and Tonic contains just that – Gin and Tonic Water.

The two are very, very similar. In fact, both a Tom Collins and a Gin Sour uses the exact same ingredients but the latter, like all Sour Cocktails, has the addition of Egg White, which gives the drink a wonderfully, fluffy and foamy texture.

There are several stories and theories about the drink’s name, but one of the most popular is that it was originally called John Collins, after the bartender who created it. However, because it was made with Old Tom Gin, people began calling it a Tom Collins instead. 

Another popular story claims that the Tom Collins originated from a prank in New York in 1874. Friends would tell people in bars that a man named Tom Collins was spreading rumors about them around the city.

In any case, neither story can be verified as true.