Tom Collins cocktail recipe

The Tom Collins is a century-old cocktail that has stood the test of time thanks to its simple, perfectly balanced recipe. It belongs to a wider family of Collins cocktails, which are all served in tall, round glasses and follow the same formula: spirit, sour, sweet, soda. In this case, the spirit is gin, making the Tom Collins reminiscent of a Gin Sour, but with a refreshing spritz of soda water. It is also unique in that it calls for the slightly sweeter Old Tom gin. 

Although now distinguished from the classic gin we know today, Old Tom was once the standard. Dating back to the 1700s, this old style of gin was sweetened with sugarcane to mask the impurities that came from the early distillation processes of the era. This resulted in a softer taste than the London dry style of gin, which eventually overtook it in popularity, and remains the most common gin today. While this cocktail can be made with any style of gin you have on hand, for the true taste of a Tom Collins, reach for an Old Tom gin.

As for the origins of the Collins family of drinks, that is attributed to John Collins, a bartender who worked at Limmer’s Hotel in London in the mid-1800s. However, with a moniker as common as Collins, it’s thought it could have actually been created by a bartender in New York, San Francisco or even here in Australia. Its first print appearance was in Professor Jerry Thomas’s 1877 title Bon Vivant’s Companion, a book that went on to become a bible for cocktail enthusiasts in the 20th century.

Sugar syrup is an essential ingredient in many cocktails, including this one, so it is definitely worth having in your bar cart at all times. Purchase a bottle, or opt to whip some up at home with our easy recipe, as linked above. Using equal parts sugar to water, combine in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir constantly until sugar is dissolved completely, then turn off the heat and allow to cool. Once cold, pour into a squeeze bottle and store in the fridge. It should be a thin consistency, similar to a liqueur.

The Collins recipe formula lends itself to many variations, both by changing up the spirit or adding additional flavours to give it a new edge. Say hello to the rest of the family by swapping gin with a light white rum for a Pedro Collins, or bourbon for a Colonel Collins. Alternatively, keep the gin and muddle in some cherries and blueberries to make an American Collins, or add lavender syrup for a delightfully floral spin on the Tom Collins known as the Sapphire Collins. With endless options, perhaps you could even try your hand at creating your very own Collins recipe!