Tom Collins Cocktail Recipe
Our recommended gin: Wessex Distillery's Alfred the Great Premium gin
Prep time: 5 minutes or less
Serving size: Serves 1
Dietary: Gluten-free, Vegan and Vegetarian
The Tom Collins cocktail dates back to as early as 1876 and has maintained its name in the world of traditional and classic cocktails since then. It uses minimal ingredients that are easy to get hold of and can usually already be found in your cupboard, making for a simple yet impressive cocktail to bring out at dinner parties and gatherings all year round.
Have a go at making the vintage Tom Collins today using one of our Wessex Distillery premium London dry gins.
Ingredients
- 60ml of a London dry gin of your choice. We’d recommend our Alfred the Great Premium gin.
- 20ml of lemon juice
- 10ml of simple sugar syrup (mix 300g of sugar or honey with 150ml water over low heat and leave to cool)
- 125ml of soda water, chilled
- Ice
- Pink grapefruit wheel for garnish
Double the amounts above to make one cocktail for you and one for a friend!
You will also need:
- Collins glasses for serving (a tall glass tumbler that can hold 300 to 400ml)
Method
Step 1
Add your gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup into your tall glass full of ice.
Step 2
Give it all a stir.
Step 3
Garnish is key for a classic Tom Collins cocktail, so add a pink grapefruit or slice of lemon on top for the finishing touches.
Recipe Tips
Add a twist to your Tom Collins
You could switch your cocktail up from the traditional Tom Collins to an elderflower version, using elderflower syrup or our elderflower gin in place of the sugar syrup to make this cocktail perfect for refreshments in spring or summer.
What’s the difference between a Tom Collins and a John Collins?
The John Collins cocktail swaps the classic gin ingredient for bourbon (a type of whiskey) and is traditionally garnished with an orange slice as opposed to lemon.
What’s the difference between a gin fizz and a Tom Collins?
A gin fizz isn’t typically served with ice and is served in a shorter glass as opposed to the taller traditional Collins glasses.
