Tom Collins
Gin, lemon and sugar become a sparkling long drink; define the gin style when comparing it with John Collins.
DrinkBoy published specification · 1 reference serve.
Glassware
Technique
Ice
Garnish
Preparation effort
Ingredients & measurements
| Ingredient | mL | US fl oz | Source measure / qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| gin | 59.15 | 2 | 2 ounces gin |
| lemon juice | 29.57 | 1 | 1 ounce lemon juice |
| 1 teaspoon superfine sugar | — | — | 1 teaspoon superfine sugar |
| soda water | 59.15 | 2 | 2 ounces soda water |
Converted equivalents are rounded for display; use one measurement system consistently. Dashes, spoonfuls, fruit counts and unspecified top-ups remain source measures. A blank equivalent does not mean zero.
How to make it
Dissolve sugar with gin and lemon, then shake with ice. Strain over fresh ice and finish with soda.
Glass: Collins glass. Ice: Fresh cubes. Garnish: Cherry and orange wheel.
Flavor & balance
- Sour (Acidic) (dominant): Citrus contributes the principal tart edge; fruit ripeness and juice yield affect balance.
- Sweet (supporting): Sweeteners, fruit or sweetened modifiers round the attack and add weight; product sugar varies.
- Earthy / Herbal (supporting): Botanicals, fresh herbs or the base spirit give aromatic plant character; this is not a basic taste.
Assess sweetness, bitterness and tactile drying separately. These flavor expectations are based on recipe structure, not measured tasting scores. Actual products, ice and dilution will change the result.
Preparation & batching
Service complexity: moderate. Batchability: spirit components only.
- Measure and label the chosen product specification; chill appropriate glassware.
- Prepare and measure fresh fruit components for the service plan; do not assume a fruit count guarantees a juice volume.
Add carbonated ingredients at service; do not shake or store the finished fizzy drink as a still batch. Workload is an editorial assessment; no labor timing or storage validation is claimed.
Spirit & ingredient choices
Recipe notes & variations
For a Black Flannel variation, change one component at a time and record the selected product, proof, sweetener concentration and dilution. Compare it with this reference before naming or publishing the variation.
Compare: Gin Fizz, John Collins, Ramos Fizz, Sloe Gin Fizz — Champagne version.
Sources & further reading
- Robert Hess / DrinkBoy — checked 2026-09-18. Recipe identity and published ingredient specification; editorial sensory and workload assessments are not source tasting results.
- Documented variant source — checked 2026-09-18. IBA John Collins page explicitly identifies its Old Tom version as Tom Collins.