Cocktail
Tom Collins
Old Tom gin gives this tall lemon-and-soda classic a rounder profile. London dry gin makes the related John Collins.
Gin · Citrusy · Fresh
Ingredients
- 45 ml Old Tom gin
- 30 ml Lemon (fresh juice)
- 15 ml Simple syrup (1:1)
- 60 ml Soda water
- 1 piece Lemon (slice, for garnish) (Optional)
- 1 piece Cocktail cherries (for garnish) (Optional)
Ice and water are assumed. Add everything else you have.
Method
Build
Equipment: Jigger or measuring spoon · Bar spoon
- Fill a tall glass with ice. Add gin, lemon juice and syrup, then stir briefly.
- Pour in the measured cold soda and lift gently with a spoon.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and cherry if available.
A small detail
Old Tom is a gin style, not a brand. Its sweetness varies; start with the measured syrup.
Estimated strength
Medium
What does this mean?
Per serving: ≈ 11.3% ABV · ≈ 14.2 g alcohol
An estimate, not a measurement. Dilution lowers concentration but does not remove alcohol. Check your bottle label. These typical alcohol levels can vary by brand and market.
Added water from ice: 10%. Water added as a percentage of the measured liquid before mixing. Ice melt varies with temperature, time and technique.
Plan for a party
Prep the base
Measure the base ahead. Fresh additions and the final mixing happen per glass.
Guests: 6
Measure the base ahead. Fresh additions and the final mixing happen per glass.
One recipe serving per guest. Choose the amount you want to prepare.
Base only: 360 ml · Per serving: 60 ml. Use a container larger than the volume shown; allow room for fruit and stirring.
Prepare the base
- 270 ml Old Tom gin
- 90 ml Simple syrup (1:1)
Keep separate for serving
- 180 ml Lemon (fresh juice)
- 360 ml Soda water
Optional garnishes · Optional
- 6 pieces Lemon (slice, for garnish)
- 6 pieces Cocktail cherries (for garnish)
Water for the batch
No pre-added water. Chill the ingredients, build over fresh ice and add the cold sparkling mixer last, except where the original recipe specifies a different order.
Prepare and serve
- Measure the base ingredients into a clean, covered container and stir to combine. Keep the quantities in the serving section separate.
- Prepare for today’s service. Label and refrigerate the covered base; follow ingredient storage labels. Keep ice out of the container and chill the glasses before serving.
- For each glass, use 60 ml of base in place of those ingredients in the original method. Add the separate ingredients at their per-serving amounts. Do not measure the base ingredients a second time.
- Prepare fresh juice close to serving and keep it chilled separately unless it is explicitly in the base. Fresh batches are for this service, not an overnight storage promise.
- Keep fizzy drinks cold and closed until pouring. Add them per glass; never shake or blend them.
The list saves ingredient names, not party quantities. Check the totals above against how much you have. Garnishes and ice are not added.
Bartender sources: Campari Academy: batching techniques · Dave Arnold: measuring dilution and batching · Simon Difford: water and dilution · Jeffrey Morgenthaler: batch calculator
Sources & inspiration
About this recipe
Recipes and house adaptations have source links. Measures, substitutions and estimated strength are explained separately. Images are AI-generated illustrations.
We do not claim every recipe has been physically tested. Community reviews are moderated user reports, separate from recipe sources.
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