Tom Collins: History of a Classic Cocktail

Tom Collins. An old cocktail, sure, but a classic combination of gin, lemon, sugar, and soda water. Although you may not find it on most cocktail lists these days, there are many variations of a Tom Collins that have made their way into current-day cocktail recipes. Where did this cocktail begin? We break it all down for you in this edition of History of a Classic Cocktail: Tom Collins.

Who Created the First Tom Collins?

Some claim the Tom Collins was first created by John Collins. John was headwaiter at Limmer’s Old House, a popular coffee house and hotel in London during the 1860s. The John Collins cocktail used Genever. Genever is a malty, sweet spirit from Holland made with juniper that most consider the predecessor of Gin. As English tastes evolved, they started making the John Collins with Old Tom Gin, and the name changed to Tom Collins.

Although this story makes sense, many claim the Tom Collins actually originated as part of the Tom Collins Hoax of 1874. As the story goes, a group of friends began telling people in bars that a man named Tom Collins was walking around the city, telling lies about them. These friends would encourage the person to go to the bar and confront Tom Collins about the slanderous lies, but when the individual would get to the bar there was no sign of Tom Collins. This repeated throughout the city in 1874 and as a result, bartenders were inspired to invent a cocktail called the Tom Collins to serve to those who came there searching for the elusive figure.

Sadly, we may never know which of these stories is the truth. However, the first recorded Tom Collins recipe is from the second edition of Jerry Thomas’ book, “The Bartender’s Guide”, published in 1876. By that time the Tom Collins became a popular spirit ordered at bars throughout the United States.

What is in a Tom Collins?

The original Tom Collins recipe from 1876 includes:

• Take 5 or 6 dashes of gum syrup (sugar syrup)

• Juice of a small lemon

• 1 large wine-glass of gin

• 2 or 3 lumps of ice

Shake up well and strain into a large bar-glass. Fill up the glass with plain soda water and drink whilst it’s lively.

While it is not specified what type of gin was used in the original recipe, it is likely Genever rather than a London Dry or other type of gin.

Today, Tom Collins may not always make it onto the cocktail recipe list at your local bar, but there is likely a similar combination of simple syrup, citrus, gin, and soda water. Give it a try and see what you think. And the next time you step into your favorite bar, be sure to ask if Tom Collins is there and see if your bartender knows the origins of this classic cocktail!

Cheers!