John Collins
A John Collins is a popular cocktail made with bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, simple sugar and soda water.
John Collins is a "Collins" group cocktail along with the Tom Collins and Vodka Collins, all of which are all made from a spirit, lemon juice, sugar (sugar syrup) and soda water.
John Collins is a popular mix in clubs: lemon juice hides the taste of cheap alcohol, while the carbon dioxide of soda accelerates the absorption of alcohol.
John Collins is classified as a long drink, as due to a large amount of ice in the glass the volume of John Collins is usually at least 300 ml. As a result, the alcohol percentage for a John Collins cocktail is about 8%.
- Total Time:
- Type: Cocktail
- Units: 2
Equipment
- Collins glass
Ingredients
- 2 shots Bourbon whiskey
- 1 shot lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- ½ shot simple syrup
- soda water (to top)
- 1 lemon slice or orange slice
- 1 maraschino cherry
Instructions
- Fill the glass with some ice cubes.
- Pour the bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Stir all the ingredients together.
- Fill the rest of the glass with soda water.
- Garnish the drink with a lemon slice and a maraschino cherry.
FAQ
What vodka cocktails are best?
If you like a vodka drink like the John Collins, we also have a roundup of our top ten cocktails with vodka, its not official, but we think you’ll find these cocktails are all worth trying.
What is the difference between a Tom Collins and a John Collins?
A Tom Collins uses gin, whereas the John Collins cocktail uses bourbon whiskey.
Which spirit makes the best John Collins?
Bourbon creates a sweeter, rounder drink, while rye or blended whiskey gives more bite. If you prefer gin, you’re basically making a Tom Collins, and if you swap for rum, you end up closer to a Cuba Libre.
What’s the best way to serve it?
Always in a tall Collins or highball glass filled with ice, topped with soda water. A lemon wheel and cherry garnish give it the classic look, just like other Collins cocktails.
Where did the John Collins come from?
The Collins family of cocktails dates back to 19th-century London, and “John Collins” was said to be named after a head waiter at Limmer’s Hotel, who made a popular gin punch. Over time, the Tom Collins became the gin standard, and the John Collins was reimagined with whiskey.