John Collins recipe
The whiskey Collins: lemon, sugar, bourbon, and soda built tall for a long, easy-drinking sour.
Method: Build ·
Glass: Collins glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Highball Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
- 2 oz Club Soda
How to make a John Collins
- Add bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a Collins glass with ice.
- Stir until chilled.
- Top with cold club soda.
- Give the drink one gentle lift with a bar spoon.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel and cherry.
Garnish
Lemon wheel and brandied cherry.
Pro tip
A Collins is not a soda-heavy whiskey drink. Keep the lemon and syrup present enough that the highball still tastes like a balanced sour.
History of the John Collins
The John Collins predates the better-known Tom Collins and is traditionally associated with whiskey rather than gin. The two names were used inconsistently for decades, which is why menus still differ.
Flavour profile
Lemon, Bourbon, Bubbly, Refreshing
Variations
- Tom Collins — Use gin instead of bourbon.
- Irish Collins — Use Irish whiskey and a touch more lemon.
- Peach Collins — Add 1/2 oz peach liqueur and reduce syrup slightly.
Practise making the John Collins in the free Virtual Bar game.