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London / United States (mid-19th century) · American / British

Tom Collins (Gin, Lemon & Soda Over Ice)

A gin sour lengthened with soda — the Tom Collins is tall, fizzy and endlessly refreshing. Fresh lemon, good gin, a little sugar and a long pour of soda water, served in its own glass.

By Table & Traditions Editors

Published June 26, 2026

A tall Tom Collins over ice in a Collins glass, pale and fizzy, garnished with a lemon wheel and a cherry.

Essentially a gin sour stretched long with soda, the Tom Collins traces to mid-1800s London (a bartender named John Collins) and was cemented in the U.S. by the 1874 'Great Tom Collins Hoax.' It was originally made with Old Tom, a lightly sweetened gin — hence the name. It's the original template for the whole 'Collins' family of tall, fizzy sours.

Yield
Makes 1
Prep
4 min
Cook
0 min
Total
About 4 min
Difficulty
Easy

The Tom Collins is a gin sour stretched long with soda — tall, fizzy and one of the most refreshing drinks there is. Fresh lemon, good gin, a little sugar and a generous pour of soda, served over ice in its own glass.

A sour, lengthened

At heart it’s gin, lemon and sugar — a classic sour. The soda is what makes it a Collins: it lengthens the drink into something you can sip slowly through a hot afternoon.

Shake the sour, add soda after

Shake the gin, lemon and syrup with ice to chill and combine, strain over fresh ice, then top with soda. Adding the soda last keeps the bubbles where they belong.

Old Tom for authenticity

The name comes from Old Tom gin, lightly sweetened and historically correct; London dry is the crisp modern default. For gin with bubbles of a different kind, see the Gin & Tonic. More in the Drinks guide.

Ingredients

Makes
1
  • 50 ml (1.75 oz) gin London dry is crisp and classic; Old Tom gin is the historically authentic, slightly sweeter choice.
  • 25 ml (0.75 oz) fresh lemon juice Fresh-squeezed only — the drink is mostly lemon and soda, so it has to be bright.
  • 15 ml (0.5 oz) simple syrup (1:1)
  • Top, about 60 ml (2 oz) soda water
  • lemon wheel and a cherry, to garnish
  • ice

Method

Tap a step’s number to check it off as you go.

  1. Add the gin, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup to a shaker with ice and shake for about 10 seconds.

    Why: Shaking the sour part first chills and integrates it; the soda goes in later so it doesn't lose its fizz.

  2. Strain into a tall Collins glass filled with fresh ice.

    Why: Fresh ice keeps the drink cold and clear without the cloudy, broken shards from the shaker.

  3. Top with soda water, stir once gently, and garnish with a lemon wheel and a cherry.

    Why: A single gentle stir lifts the sour up through the soda while keeping the bubbles alive.

A quick, anonymous tap — no review needed.

Variations

  • Vodka Collins

    Use vodka instead of gin for a cleaner, more neutral version.

  • John Collins

    Use bourbon or genever in place of gin for a richer, whiskey-leaning Collins.

  • Fruit Collins

    Muddle a few berries or add a splash of fruit purée before topping with soda.

Serving & Storage

Serve tall over ice, fizzy and cold. A perfect long, low-strength refresher for a hot afternoon.

Pairs with: Fish and chips, Summer salads, Grilled chicken, Charcuterie.

Storage: Make to order — the fizz won't keep. You can pre-mix gin, lemon and syrup and refrigerate; shake and top with soda per glass.

Nutrition

Per serving (1 cocktail (~200 ml))

Calories
170
Protein
0 g
Carbs
14 g
Fat
0 g
Fiber
0 g
Sugar
12 g
Sodium
10 mg

Estimated using standard ingredient data. Values vary with brands and substitutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a Tom Collins and a gin fizz?

They share gin, lemon, sugar and soda. A Tom Collins is built tall over ice in a Collins glass and sipped long; a gin fizz is shaken (often with egg white), served shorter and without ice. Same DNA, different presentation.

Why is it called 'Tom'?

It was originally made with Old Tom, a lightly sweetened style of gin popular in the 1800s. Old Tom gives the most historically accurate result, but London dry is the common modern choice.

Can I make a big batch?

Yes — mix the gin, lemon and syrup ahead and keep it cold, then pour over ice and top each glass with soda to order so every drink stays fizzy.

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Further reading