
Tom collins cocktail
- Preparation and cooking time
- Total time
- Easy
- Serves 1
This classic is essentially a sour cocktail lengthened with sparkling water. Winningly simple to mix, it makes for a deliciously refreshing aperitif
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Try this Tom Collins recipe, then check out our Singapore sling, negroni, dirty martini and more gin cocktail recipes.
Our drinks expert, Hannah Guinness, shares her at-home bar tips to help you take your tom collins to the next level.
What is a tom collins?
At its simplest a tom collins is a sour made with a base spirit – classically old tom gin – lemon juice and sugar, and lengthened with sparkling water. It’s winningly easy to make and makes for a refreshing summer drink.
Tom collins ingredients
We’ve tried and tested the best gins, but feel free to experiment with other base spirits – vodka, cognac, calvados, blanco tequila, white rum and light blended whiskies would all work well.
Bar hacks and garnishes
Garnish with a lemon wheel and maraschino cherry. Use a chilled highball glass.
Take your skills to the next level with this handy cocktail kit from the olive shop. Completed with easy-to-use cobbler shaker, double jigger, fine mesh strainer and bar spoon, it has everything you need to make next-level drinks at home. Buy here.
Make it a non-alcoholic tom collins
Swap the gin for a non-alcoholic gin.
- 50ml London dry or old tom gin
- 25ml lemon juice
- 12.5ml sugar syrup
- sparkling water
- lemon or orange wheel and maraschino cherryto garnish
Method
step 1
Fill a tall highball glass with ice, add all of the ingredients and gently stir. Garnish with a citrus wheel and maraschino cherry.
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