Tom Collins Cocktail

Make mixologist-worthy Tom Collins in the comfort of your own home with this easy Tom Collins cocktail recipe.

What Is a Tom Collins?

Tom Collins is a gin-based cocktail made with lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda. It's served over ice in a Tom Collins glass.

Tom Collins is not named after a real person. Though the recipe likely originated in London, the cocktail's name probably comes from a practical joke that took New York and Philadelphia by storm in the 1870s.

It went like this: Someone would ask their friend, "Do you know Tom Collins?" When the friend said they did not know Tom Collins, the prankster would say that the nonexistent man was going from bar to bar telling lies about him.

The joke was so widespread it was dubbed The Great Tom Collins Hoax of 1874.

Tom Collins Ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need to make a homemade Tom Collins cocktail:

· Ice: Traditional Tom Collins cocktails are served over ice.
· Gin: Opt for a dry London gin.
· Lemon: You'll need lemon juice for the drink itself and a wedge for garnish.
· Simple syrup: Use store-bought simple syrup or make your own at home.
· Club soda: Club soda is what gives the Tom Collins its signature fizz.

How to Make a Tom Collins

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make a Tom Collins at home:

1. Fill a glass with ice and place the glass in the freezer.
2. Combine the gin, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake.
3. Strain the drink into the chilled glass, top with club soda, and garnish.

How to Serve a Tom Collins

The Tom Collins cocktail is served in a Collins glass (a cylindrical glass that's narrower than a traditional highball glass) over ice. Garnish the drink with a lemon slice or wedge. Some people like to add a maraschino cherry, but it's not required.

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams