Tom Collins
The Tom Collins is a bar standard outside the IBA list: 4 ingredients, shaken and topped and served in a collins. That makes 171 ml in the glass: a middling measure.
MethodShaken and topped
GlassCollins
In the glass171 ml
Strength12.9%
Ingredients
- 52.5 mlOld Tom Gin
- 22.5 mlfresh lemon juice
- 15 mlrich sugar syrup
- 52.5 mlsoda water
Method
- Shake the gin, lemon and syrup with ice.
- Strain into an ice-filled collins glass and top with soda water.
Garnish: Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.
What it tastes like
- bitter → sweet
- It sits between bitter and sweet: 0.2 out of 10 of bitterness, 72nd of 186 for sweetness.
- round → sour
- Acidity leaves it halfway: 115th of 186, and the acid comes from fresh lemon juice.
- light → strong
- 12.9% after dilution: the middle band, 99th of 186.
Among the five around it on the map it is the only one built on gin.
Five that come close
- ScrewdriverBuilt on vodka and with fresh orange juice in place of Old Tom Gin.
- Don’s Special DaiquiriSweeter and built on rum.
- PucciniBuilt on vino and with prosecco in place of Old Tom Gin.
- Three Dots and a DashRounder and built on rum.
- Harvey Wallbanger3 degrees stronger and built on vodka.
Every drink near the Tom Collins on the map
Recipe source: Difford's Guide · checked on 3 November 2026