Tom Collins

Need a quick and easy cocktail that is light and refreshing? The answer is this delicious Tom Collins cocktail. It’s so easy to make and refreshing from the lemon. A simple combination of gin (your base liquor), lemon juice, simple syrup and club soda.

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This classic gin cocktail is easy enough to shake up on a weeknight while relaxing, but also great for entertaining because it’s always a hit!

Cold, refreshing and EASY to make! Those three things are what I love best about a Tom Collins cocktail. You guys know I’ve been into the classic cocktails lately and a Tom Collins is a new favorite. It’s a drink made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda – shake it up with some ice and you get a drink that’s perfect for all the parties and happy hour get-togethers.

Why is it called a Tom Collins?

It’s been around a long time and it was in the late 1800’s that it officially named a Tom Collins. Apparently, there was a popular practical joke people played on each other that included a fictional person named “Tom Collins”. The joke was so popular that a bartender named a drink after the joke and the rest is history.  Isn’t history fun?

Ingredients

• Ice
• Gin – We recommend Old Tom Gin, but any will work.
• Lemon juice – Freshly Squeezed is always best!
• Simple syrup – You can buy this, but making it is super easy!
• Club soda

What is Simple Syrup?

It’s just sugar and water that have been simmered together until the sugar is dissolved. You can buy simple syrup already made, but it’s so seriously easy to make you should make your own. I share all the instructions in my Simple Syrup post, so be sure to check it out!

If you like cocktails, simple syrup is great to have on hand and you can use it in lots of different cocktails like an Amaretto Sour and others!

What Kind of Gin is Best for this Drink?

There are different kinds of gin and I’m sure your favorite gin (whichever it is!) will work great, but a classic Tom Collins is made with Old Tom gin which is a little sweeter, but use what you like best!

How to Make a Tom Collins

We get to use a cocktail shaker for this drink! I love an excuse to use mine!

• Prep the Glass – First, fill a tall glass with ice and place it in the freezer while you mix the drink.
• Shake – Grab your cocktail shaker and add a cup of ice. Add the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake it until chilled and then strain the drink into your chilled glass.
• Pour – Top the drink with club soda and add a lemon wedge for garnish.

That’s all you have to do to make it! It’s a great sipping drink – so refreshing, lemony with a little bite from the gin. Like all cocktails, you can experiment with how strong you like your drink so play around with it until you get your perfect mix!

If you want to make this drink for a party, here are my tips!

• Depending on how many people are attending, you might want to fill glasses with ice and pop them in the freezer so they’re nice and chilled beforehand.
• You can leave the ingredients out for everyone to make and shake their own drink. Have an ice bucket, cocktail shakers, and lemon wedges all ready for them to grab.

We love this drink when it’s just the two of us and we want a refreshing cocktail after a busy day. It’s so simple and easy to make it’s at the top of our favorite cocktails list! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

More Refreshing Cocktails

I love a cold and refreshing drink – here are some more recipes you might like to try, too!

• Did you know that the beloved Paloma is actually Mexico’s most beloved cocktail? It’s a tequila-based cocktail and is most commonly prepared with a grapefruit-flavored soda, squirt of lime juice and tequila then served on the rocks with a lime wedge!
• Pink Moscato Lemonade is a lightly fruity, sweet and bubbly drink I love to make for parties! It’s made with Moscato wine which is a sweet wine – it’s so good!
• You only need three ingredients to make a classic Italian Aperol Spritz!
• Of course, you can’t go wrong with everyone’s favorite Margarita! Make one for yourself or a big batch to share at your next party.
• A John Daly is a drink made with iced tea, lemonade and vodka – it’s perfect for summer!

WATCH THE STEP BY STEP VIDEO FOR THIS RECIPE BELOW:

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Try it and love it? Rate it, please!!!? Seriously though a five-star rating below will make my day! If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!!

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

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5 from 5 votes

Tom Collins

A quick and easy refreshing cocktail with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and club soda!

Prep:5 minutes mins

Total:5 minutes mins

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Ingredients

• ▢ 1 1/2 c. ice
• ▢ 2 fluid ounces gin
• ▢ 3/4 fluid ounce lemon juice
• ▢ 1/2 fluid ounce simple syrup
• ▢ 1 c. ice
• ▢ 2 fluid ounces club soda

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Instructions

• Fill a Collins glass with 1 1/2 cups of ice, set aside in the freezer.
• Combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add 1 cup ice, cover and shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled Collins glass.
• Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon wedge.

Tips

What Kind of Gin is Best for this Drink?

There are different kinds of gin and I'm sure your favorite gin (whichever it is!) will work great, but a classic Tom Collins is made with Old Tom gin which is a little sweeter, but use what you like best!

If you want to make this drink for a party, here are my tips!

• Depending on how many people are attending, you might want to fill glasses with ice and pop them in the freezer so they're nice and chilled beforehand.
• You can leave the ingredients out for everyone to make and shake their own drink. Have an ice bucket, cocktail shakers, and lemon wedges all ready for them to grab.

Video

Nutrition Information

Calories: 181kcal (9%), Carbohydrates: 12g (4%), Protein: 1g (2%), Fat: 1g (2%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Sodium: 51mg (2%), Sugar: 11g (12%), Vitamin C: 9mg (11%), Calcium: 11mg (1%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

© Julie's Eats & Treats ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.