Tom Collins Recipe: How to Make a Classic Gin Lemon Soda Cocktail at Home

What Is a Tom Collins?

A Tom Collins is a classic highball cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and soda water. It is usually served over ice in a tall Collins glass or highball glass and garnished with lemon and cherry.

It belongs to the Collins family of cocktails. According to Difford’s Guide, a Collins is a sour cocktail made with a base spirit, lemon juice, sugar, and carbonated water, served long over ice.

A good Tom Collins should taste:

• Cold and refreshing
• Citrusy from fresh lemon juice
• Lightly sweet, not syrupy
• Smooth and aromatic from gin
• Fizzy from soda water

Tom Collins Recipe

This recipe makes one serving.

Ingredients

• 45ml Old Tom Gin or London Dry Gin
• 30ml fresh lemon juice
• 15ml simple syrup
• 60ml chilled soda water
• Ice cubes
• Lemon slice for garnish
• Optional: maraschino cherry for garnish

Method

1. Fill a Collins glass or highball glass with ice.
2. Add gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup.
3. Stir gently to combine.
4. Top with chilled soda water.
5. Stir gently once or twice to lift the ingredients.
6. Garnish with a lemon slice and cherry if desired.
7. Serve immediately while cold and fizzy.

For a benchmark formula, you can compare this with the IBA John Collins recipe, which uses gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda water, with a note that Old Tom Gin is used for Tom Collins.

Quick Answer: How Do You Make a Tom Collins?

To make a Tom Collins, add 45ml gin, 30ml fresh lemon juice, and 15ml simple syrup into a tall glass with ice. Top with 60ml chilled soda water, stir gently, and garnish with lemon.

Best Gin for Tom Collins

The classic Tom Collins is traditionally linked to Old Tom Gin. Old Tom Gin is usually slightly sweeter and softer than London Dry Gin, which makes it suitable for a bright lemon-and-soda cocktail.

London Dry Gin also works well if you want a cleaner, drier, and more juniper-forward Tom Collins.

Choose a gin that is:

• Smooth enough for highball cocktails
• Fresh and aromatic
• Not overly harsh
• Balanced with lemon and soda water
• Authentic and properly sourced

You can browse gin options here: Gin Collection.

Old Tom Gin or London Dry Gin: Which Is Better?

Both can work. Old Tom Gin gives a softer and slightly sweeter classic style. London Dry Gin gives a crisper and drier version.

Use Old Tom Gin if you want:

• A more traditional Tom Collins style
• A softer gin profile
• A slightly rounder sweetness
• A gentler finish

Use London Dry Gin if you want:

• A drier cocktail
• More juniper character
• A cleaner citrus profile
• A sharper, more refreshing finish

Fresh Lemon Juice or Bottled Lemon Juice?

Fresh lemon juice is strongly recommended for Tom Collins. Since lemon is one of the main flavours, bottled lemon juice can make the cocktail taste flat, sharp, or artificial.

Fresh lemon juice gives better aroma, cleaner acidity, and a fresher finish.

Use fresh lemon juice if you want:

• Better citrus aroma
• Cleaner sourness
• A fresher cocktail
• Better balance with gin and soda water

Simple Syrup or Sugar: Which Is Better?

Simple syrup is easier for home mixing because it dissolves quickly in cold drinks. Granulated sugar can work, but it may sit at the bottom of the glass if not dissolved properly.

Use simple syrup if you want:

• Faster preparation
• More consistent sweetness
• A smoother first sip
• Less risk of undissolved sugar

Use sugar if you want:

• A more traditional preparation
• A slightly more textured drink
• More control while stirring

For most home recipes, 15ml simple syrup is the practical choice.

Should a Tom Collins Be Shaken or Built in the Glass?

A Tom Collins can be built directly in the glass. This keeps the method simple and preserves the soda water bubbles.

You can also shake the gin, lemon juice, and syrup with ice first, then strain into a tall glass and top with soda water. This gives a colder and slightly smoother drink.

Build in the glass if you want:

• A simple home method
• Less washing up
• Better bubbles
• A quick refreshing drink

Shake first if you want:

• A colder drink
• Better lemon and syrup integration
• A more cocktail-bar style texture
• A slightly smoother finish

Tom Collins Taste Profile

A Tom Collins should taste cold, fizzy, lemony, lightly sweet, and refreshing. It should not taste like plain lemonade, and it should not be overly strong.

A good Tom Collins should be:

• Cold
• Fizzy
• Citrusy
• Lightly sweet
• Smooth from gin
• Refreshing on the finish

If your Tom Collins tastes too sour, add a little more simple syrup. If it tastes too sweet, add more lemon juice or soda water. If it tastes flat, use colder soda water and fresh lemon juice.

Tom Collins Variations

Once you understand the classic Tom Collins, you can adjust the drink with different spirits, fruits, or garnishes.

Classic Tom Collins

Use gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, soda water, ice, and lemon garnish.

John Collins

Use London Dry Gin or another gin style. This is very close to a Tom Collins, but Tom Collins is traditionally associated with Old Tom Gin.

Vodka Collins

Replace gin with vodka for a cleaner and more neutral lemon soda cocktail.

Rum Collins

Replace gin with light rum for a softer, slightly tropical version.

Tequila Collins

Replace gin with tequila for a brighter agave-based variation.

Elderflower Tom Collins

Add a small amount of elderflower liqueur for a floral and lightly sweet variation.

What to Serve with Tom Collins

Tom Collins pairs well with fresh, light, salty, and citrus-friendly food. Its lemon and soda profile works well with seafood, grilled dishes, and casual snacks.

Good food pairings include:

• Grilled prawns
• Fish and chips
• Roast chicken
• Smoked salmon
• Cheese platter
• Salted nuts
• Fresh salad
• Bruschetta
• Light tapas

For home entertaining, serve Tom Collins as a welcome drink, brunch cocktail, or refreshing pre-dinner drink.

Common Tom Collins Mistakes

1. Using bottled lemon juice

Fresh lemon juice gives better aroma and cleaner acidity. Bottled lemon juice can make the cocktail taste dull or artificial.

2. Using flat soda water

Fresh soda water gives the drink lift and sparkle. Flat soda water makes the cocktail taste lifeless.

3. Making it too sweet

A Tom Collins should be refreshing, not syrupy. Start with 15ml simple syrup and adjust only if needed.

4. Using too little ice

Enough ice keeps the drink cold and refreshing. Too little ice makes it warm and watery faster.

5. Stirring too hard after adding soda

Stir gently after adding soda water. Too much stirring removes the bubbles.

Where to Buy Gin for Tom Collins in Malaysia

If you want to make Tom Collins at home, the main bottle you need is gin. Old Tom Gin gives a softer classic style, while London Dry Gin gives a cleaner and drier version.

At Blue Ocean Wine House, you can shop authentic gin, vodka, rum, tequila, whisky, cognac, wine, Champagne, liqueur, and other alcoholic beverages online in Malaysia.

Explore related categories:

• Buy Gin Online in Malaysia
• Shop Spirits Online
• Shop Liqueur Online
• Shop Vodka Online
• Shop Rum Online
• Shop Wine Online

Note: Alcohol is only for non-Muslim customers aged 21 and above in Malaysia. Please drink responsibly. For general responsible drinking guidance, you can refer to DrinkIQ.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tom Collins

What alcohol is used in a Tom Collins?

A Tom Collins uses gin as the base alcohol. It is mixed with fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, soda water, and ice.

What is the best gin for Tom Collins?

Old Tom Gin is the traditional choice because it gives a softer and slightly sweeter profile. London Dry Gin also works if you prefer a cleaner and drier version.

What is the difference between Tom Collins and John Collins?

They are very similar gin, lemon, sugar, and soda cocktails. Tom Collins is traditionally associated with Old Tom Gin, while John Collins is often made with other gin styles.

Do you shake or stir a Tom Collins?

You can build a Tom Collins directly in the glass and stir gently. You can also shake the gin, lemon juice, and syrup first, then top with soda water.

Can I use lemonade instead of soda water?

You can, but the drink will be sweeter and less classic. Soda water gives a cleaner and more refreshing Tom Collins.

What glass should I use for Tom Collins?

A Collins glass or highball glass is best because it gives enough space for ice, gin, lemon juice, syrup, and soda water.

Can I make Tom Collins with vodka?

Yes, but it becomes a Vodka Collins. The drink will taste cleaner and less botanical than the gin version.

Can I prepare Tom Collins in advance?

You can pre-mix gin, lemon juice, and syrup, but add soda water only when serving. This keeps the drink fizzy and fresh.

Final Takeaway

A great Tom Collins is cold, fizzy, lemony, and refreshing. Use gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, chilled soda water, plenty of ice, and a lemon garnish.

For a classic version, start with 45ml gin, 30ml fresh lemon juice, 15ml simple syrup, and 60ml soda water. From there, adjust the sweetness and lemon based on your taste.

Ready to make your own Tom Collins? Shop gin, vodka, rum, tequila, whisky, wine, Champagne, liqueur, and other authentic alcoholic beverages online at Blue Ocean Wine House.