🥃 John Collins
Classic IBA long drink of gin, fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup topped with soda in a tall glass with ice; named after a waiter at London’s Limmer’s hotel.
If you know the Tom Collins, the John Collins is its older cousin: a classic long drink of gin, fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup, topped with soda in a tall glass of ice. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) lists it among its “Unforgettables” and notes that with Old Tom gin the same drink is called a Tom Collins.
The IBA recipe. 45 ml gin, 30 ml fresh lemon juice, 15 ml sugar syrup and 60 ml soda are poured straight into a highball glass with ice and gently stirred. The garnish is a lemon slice and a maraschino cherry. Difford’s Guide shakes the gin, juice and rich syrup with ice and adds the soda separately.
History. The name is linked to John Collins, the head waiter at London’s Limmer’s hotel on Conduit Street, known for its gin punch. According to Bar Vademecum, Collins was born around 1770, ran the hotel’s coffee room from at least 1807 and died in 1843. Difford’s Guide believes the cocktail grew out of gin punch.
Which gin. In Harry Johnson’s 1882 manual the John Collins is made with Holland gin, that is genever, and the Tom Collins with Old Tom. Today, according to Difford’s Guide, London dry gin is used for the John Collins. Unlike the Gin Fizz, the collins is served over ice in a larger glass.
Why this matters to you. Soda and lemon make the drink light on the palate, but an IBA serving contains 45 ml of gin; according to Difford’s Guide, that is about 17 g of pure alcohol, more than one standard drink. Do not drive after a cocktail. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Raw material | gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, soda |
|---|---|
| Alcohol (% vol.) | about 11% alc. vol. in the glass, 17.1 g of alcohol per serving (Difford’s Guide) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 John Collins → affects → 🍷 Alcohol and health ← affects ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🍸 London gin, 🥃 Old Tom Gin, 🥃 Genever, 🍬 Sugar
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🍸 Gin
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Gin Fizz
Frequently asked questions
Is a John Collins the same as a Tom Collins?
Almost: the IBA gives one recipe and notes that with Old Tom gin the drink is called a Tom Collins. Historically the John Collins was made with genever and the Tom Collins with Old Tom.
What goes into a John Collins?
According to the IBA: 45 ml gin, 30 ml fresh lemon juice, 15 ml sugar syrup and 60 ml soda, served with ice in a highball glass.
Who was John Collins?
Head waiter at London’s Limmer’s hotel on Conduit Street; according to Bar Vademecum, he lived about 1770–1843.
How does a John Collins differ from a Gin Fizz?
The recipe is similar, but the fizz is served without ice in a smaller glass, while the collins is served with ice in a tall one.
How strong is a John Collins?
According to Difford’s Guide, about 11% alc. vol. in the glass and 17.1 g of pure alcohol, more than one standard drink.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🍸 London gin — London gin is the EU's strictest distilled gin: aroma from distillation only, no colourings, up to 0.1 g/l of sugar, at least 37.5% ABV (40% / 80 proof in the US). “London” is a method, not a place.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Hanky Panky · 🥃 Martinez · 🥃 Gin Basil Smash · 🥃 Paradise · 🥃 Gin Fizz · 🥃 Casino
Sources
- IBA: John Collins — The Unforgettables (45 ml gin, 30 ml fresh lemon juice, 15 ml simple syrup, 60 ml soda water; built in a highball with ice; lemon slice and maraschino cherry; with Old Tom gin it is a Tom Collins)
- Difford's Guide: John Collins — evolved from Gin Punch; John (or Jim) Collins, head waiter at Limmer's Hotel, Conduit Street, London; Johnson 1882 — John Collins with Holland gin, Tom Collins with Old Tom; Difford's recipe with London dry gin; 11.16 % alc./vol., 17.1 g alcohol
- Bar Vademecum: From Gin Punch to Collins, part 7 — John Collins born in London c. 1770, ran the Coffee Room at Limmer's Hotel (Conduit Street, Hanover Square) from at least 1807, died 1843
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, Annex I as adopted: cat. 1 rum (min. 37.5 %), cat. 19 juniper-flavoured spirit drinks (Juniperus communis L. or J. oxycedrus L., min. 30 %, juniper discernible), cat. 20 gin (J. communis, taste predominantly juniper, min. 37.5 %, 'dry' up to 0.1 g/l sweetening), cat. 21 distilled gin, cat. 22 London gin
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)