If you have already heard about this cocktail, then you know it seems to resemble the famous and fairly popular drink, Gin & Tonic. Well, the apple doesn’t fall from the tree. Tom Collins is somewhat similar to G&T, with its base liquor being gin and having that citrus flavor.
Both are served in highball glass and served over ice. It feels like Tom Collins asked G&T if they could copy the recipe, but G&T was like, “Just change a few details.” But there is a lot more to this drink.
What Is Tom Collins?
Tom Collins is a cocktail that uses gin as its liquor base, with lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda. It’s a simple and refreshing cocktail that has prompted mixologists to spawn many alternates.
This drink is usually served in a Collins glass, over ice. With citrus and herbal taste notes, it perfectly complements the sweetness of the sugar syrup. It has been a popular drink for more than a century and is a favorite among mixologists due to its mixing properties.
Tom Collins Has A Discovery Story
A few sources have said that the discovery of this drink started with a joke. Apparently, a group of friends were walking around a club in New York City, telling people that there was a man named Tom Collins who was telling false stories about them. The story began to grow to a point, where people started going from bar to bar, in search of this unknown person. People started to get agitated at the thought of some person going around, bad-mouthing them.
With the rise of this joke, bartenders took advantage of the situation and served Tom Collins cocktails to those who enquired. This came to be known as the Tom Collins Hoax of 1874.
But, this recipe solidified in 1876, when it was first materialized in written format by Jerry Thomas, the father of American mixology. Due to inaccurate publications and awareness, the origins are difficult to pin down. But the first of Collins drinks were mentioned in Harry Johnson’s 1882 New and Improved Bartender’s Manual or How to Mix Drinks of the Present Style. This book contains two different drinks, a Tom Collins for the use of Old Tom gin and a John Collins for the use of Holland Gin.
Also Read: What Is Vermouth
This Is How You Make Tom Collins Cocktail
The recipe to make this cocktail is fairly simple. Just grab the below-mentioned ingredients and let’s get started. This recipe is considered a modern take on Jerry Thomas’ 1876 recipe. This recipe is a part of The Book Of Cocktail, published in 1986.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. dry gin
- 2 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp. simple syrup
- Club soda
- Lemon wheel and maraschino cherry for garnish.
Step-By-Step Guide:
- This recipe requires a lot of ice and a Collins glass.
- Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to the glass.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Top it up with club soda and stir slowly.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel and a maraschino cherry. You can use a skewer to pierce the two and place it on the top of the glass.
- Start a conversation with the person sitting next to you, “So did you hear about Tom Collins?”
Also Read: 5 Scottish Gin Cocktails To Try This International Scottish Gin Day
Must Try Tom Collins Variations
- Summer Collins
We consider this to be the lazy version of Tom Collins. Made with just two ingredients, this one is a quick and easy version of the original. All you need is gin and lemonade. You can even skip the garnish, and just top it off with ice and lemonade completely.
- Ron Collins
Meet Tom Collins’ cousin. This uses orange and pineapple in the recipe. Sounds tropical, doesn’t it? To make this drink, simply add lime and orange pieces in a cocktail shaker and muddle. Then add ice and add Angostura bitters, demerara syrup, kalamansi juice, and rum. Shake, Shake, shake. Strain and top it up with seltzer.
- Michael Collins
This one is of Irish descent, with flavors of Irish whiskey and spices. Some mixologists recommend placing a cinnamon stick in simple syrup overnight before using it for this drink.
- Phil Collins
This works well as a cooler, which makes it an ideal summer drink. This one is made with watermelon and cranberry juice. To make it even more relaxing, add cucumber slices. A spa day indeed!
Also Read: What Is Stout? Everything You Need To Know!
Summing Up
Now that we have introduced you to Tom Collins and its family, you are ready to experiment on your own. The beauty of the drink is its simplistic nature and its ability to easily adapt to crafty recipes. So why not let your inner mixologist take over. Who knows, you may just come up with the next great Tom Collins version!
FAQs
What Is A Tom Collins Drink Made Of?
Tom Collins is made of gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda. It is usually served in a Collins glass, with a lemon slice and maraschino cherry as garnish.
Why Is It Called Tom Collins?
The name of the drink comes from a long-running joke that was played by a group of friends in New York, on the people in different bars. The joke escalated and caused people to get so agitated that they started to enquire about this unknown man, Tom Collins. This caused them to unknowingly order this drink.
What Is The Difference Between Tom Collins And Gin And Tonic?
Gin & Tonic is made with, well, gin and tonic, with a lemon wheel garnish. Tom Collins is made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda. G & T tastes quite tart as compared to Tom Collins. The latter is much sweeter and citrusy.
What Does A Tom Collins Taste Like?
Tom Collins just tastes like lemonade with alcohol. In fact, the simpler variation of this cocktail is made with gin and lemonade. It has notes of sugar and citrus.
Is A Tom Collins Classy?
Tom Collins is known to be one of the classiest drinks and has been popular ever since its discovery. It is a refreshing and easy-to-make cocktail. It is also smooth to taste.
