John Collins

Classic/vintage · Hall of Fame and must know/try · Gin Collins

4.0 98 ratings

Ingredients

How to make

Flavour profile

12.1% alc./vol. · 1.4 standard drinks · 184 calories

History

Sour lemon and sugar are balanced, with London dry gin and soda. This is also known as a Tom Collins, though that uses old tom gin.

The Collins drink seemingly evolved from the Gin Punch, which was a popular beverage of its era. Its creation and name are ascribed to John (or potentially Jim) Collins, who served as the head waiter at Limmer's Hotel on Conduit Street in London during the latter part of the 1800s. Limmer's Hotel's 'coffee house' was essentially a dive bar, frequented by those involved in sports throughout the 19th century, and, according to Captain Gronow's 1860s memoirs – Captain Gronow being a Victorian author of four observational volumes – it was renowned for its Gin Punch as far back as 1814. John Collins gained lasting recognition in an 1892 limerick penned by Frank and Charles Sheridan about him: "My name is John Collins, headwaiter at Limmer's, Corner of Conduit Street, Hanover Square, My chief occupation is filling brimmers For all the young gentlemen frequenters there. Mr. Frank always drinks my gin punch when he smokes." One theory suggests that the distinctive gin-punch for which John Collins of Limmer's was celebrated might have become known as the Tom Collins because it was prepared with old tom gin. Harry Johnson's 1882 *Bartenders' Manual* features recipes for both a John Collins, made with Holland Gin (genever), and a Tom Collins, which uses old tom gin. "JOHN COLLINS. (Use an extra large bar glass) 1 table-spoonful of sugar; 5 to 6 dashes of lemon juice; 1 wine glass full of Holland gin; 4 or 5 small lumps of ice; Open a bottle of plain soda water, pour this into the ingredients, mix up well, remove the ice, and serve. Careful attention must be paid when mixing the soda water with the above, not to let the foam of it spread over the glass." "TOM COLLINS (Use an extra large bar glass) Three-quarters table-spoon of sugar; 3 or 4 dashes of lime or lemon juice; 3 or 4 pieces of broken ice; 1 wine glass of Old Tom gin; 1 bottle of plain soda water; mix up well with a spoon, remove the ice, and serve. Attention must be paid not to let the foam of the soda water spread over the glass." Thos. Stuart's 1904 *Stuart's Fancy Drinks and How to Mix Them* provides a recipe for a Tom Collins, specifying old tom gin, and a John Collins, simply calling for "gin," which is generally understood to mean London dry gin. "Tom Collins. (Use an extra large bar glass) ¾ table-spoonful of sugar. 3 or 4 dashes of lime juice. 3 or 4 pieces of broken ice. 1 wine-glass of Old Tom gin. 1 bottle of plain soda. Mix well with a spoon, strain and serve. Attention must be paid not to let the foam of the soda spread over the glass; this drink must be drank as soon as mixed." "John Collins' Gin. (Extra large bar glass) 1 table-spoon sugar. About 5 dashes lemon juice. 1 wine-glass gin. 5 or 6 small bits of ice. 1 bottle plain soda. Mix well, remove the ice, and serve."

Also known as Gin Collins