Abbie

Published on January 24, 2022

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Whether you are looking for a party cocktail or a spiked refreshing drink for a warm day, Tom Collin with Lime will do the trick for both.

You may or may not know, but the Tom Collins cocktail goes way back! I won’t bore you with all of the details, just know that this drink has been around since the 1800s and not much has changed.

I love making homemade cocktails, even though store-bought mixers may seem more convenient. That being said, if you see Tom Collins mix on the shelf, ditch it. Most mixers have a ton of unnecessary ingredients and preservatives. Not to mention they can be more expensive than you just making it from scratch.

Making a Tom Collins is relatively easy, doesn’t require a bunch of different fancy pours, and can easily be made in a large pitcher for crowds.

Today I am switching things up a bit and making my cocktail with lime instead of lemon, which is normally what you would get if you ordered a Tom Collins.

What’s The Difference Between A Tom Collins And A John Collins?

John Collins traditionally uses bourbon for the base instead of gin. It’s also garnished with an orange and cherry versus a lemon. Even though there are only a few small differences, both are worth trying and make refreshing cocktails for warmer days!

Tom Collins Ingredients

Gin – Old Tom gin or London Dry gin works well

fresh lime juice – fresh is the best!

simple syrup – there shouldn’t be a ton of extra ingredients listed on the label

Soda water – you could also use seltzer water instead

Garnish: lemon slice, cherry

Making a Tom Collins

In a cocktail shaker with ice, pour in the gin, fresh lime juice, and syrup.

Shake well then strain into a highball glass or Collins glass.

Top it off with soda water or seltzer and garnish with a lemon slice and cherry.

tom collins with lime in a small glass

What Is The Best Gin For A Tom Collins?

I mentioned earlier that Old Tom Gin or London Dry pairs well with the other ingredients. That’s because the Old Tom is naturally a little sweeter so it balances out. London Dry isn’t overpowering either and has a mild citrus flavor. These gins are steeped with botanicals, so there are already some additional flavors before you even add the other ingredients.

Should A Tom Collins Be Shaken?

A good rule of thumb when making cocktails is if you are using multiple mixers and juices you can shake them with no harm done.

These cocktails are typically served in a Collins glass if you were to order one from the bar. So if you want to make them directly in the glass you don’t have to shake them. If you prefer to use a cocktail shaker like I’m doing, that’s okay too.