John Collins Cocktail

The John Collins cocktail puts a bourbon spin on the classic Tom Collins! Here’s how to make this bubbly whiskey highball dink with just 4 ingredients in 5 minutes.

Here’s a fun whiskey drink that’s a spin on a classic: the John Collins cocktail! The Tom Collins is one of my very favorite classic cocktails starring gin, lemon, and simple syrup: the John version just swaps in bourbon whiskey for gin.

That means it’s essentially a sparkling whiskey sour, served with soda water in a highball glass! Bubbly and refreshing, the whiskey spin is a bit more bold than the delicately botanical gin version. It’s a fun whiskey cocktail that works for any occasion and every time I serve it, people ask for th recipe.

What’s a John Collins Cocktail?

The modern definition of a John Collins cocktail is a highball drink with whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda water. The gin version of the drink dates back to at least 1869, supposedly named after a waiter in London by that name.

In fact, “John Collins” was the original name for the gin version of the drink. But when Jerry Thomas recorded the recipe in his popular 1876 bartending book, he changed the name to Tom Collins because the recipe called for “Old Tom gin.” Today there’s still some confusion between the two. Even the International Bartender’s Association calls the gin version the John Collins, but the modern definition most often calls for whiskey.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need 4 ingredients (plus ice and a garnish) for this whiskey Collins:

Bourbon whiskey: Bourbon brings sweet, oaky vanilla notes to this drink.
Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed juice is a must for the bright, citrusy flavor; avoid bottled juice.
Simple syrup: It takes 5 minutes to make at home: see How to Make Simple Syrup.
Soda water: The bubbles make this into a tall, refreshing highball drink.

How to Make a John Collins Cocktail

The John Collins cocktail is a simple highball drink that’s easy to make at home. Like most highball cocktails, you can build the drink in the glass! That means no need for a cocktail shaker. Here’s what to do (or jump right to the recipe for quantities):

Pour whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a glass. Add ice.
Top off with soda water. Use as much as you’d like, and whatever fits in your glass.
Garnish! Top it off with a cocktail cherry and lemon wedge. If you’d like, add a fun straw!

The Best Whiskey for a John Collins

You can use any type of whiskey in a John Collins cocktail, but I think it’s best with bourbon whiskey. Bourbon gives it those classic sweet notes, with a finish of oak and vanilla. Some brands I like are Bulleit Bourbon, Elijah Craig Small Batch, Four Roses Small Batch or Woodford Reserve.

Bourbon is the most common for a John Collins, but another nice choice is Irish whiskey. It’s very mellow and melds well into the flavors for a light and refreshing drink.

Other types of whiskey like rye, Tennessee, Canadian, Scotch or Japanese whiskey work: they just bring different flavor profiles to the drink. These make a heavier and more complex drink, whereas the John Collins is known for its light effervescence. But feel free to experiment and find the whiskey that works for you.

More Collins Cocktails

The formula of spirit, lemon, simple syrup and soda water works well with just about any liquor! Here are a few more Collins cocktails you might enjoy:

Go for the classic gin version, the Tom Collins Cocktail
Try a Basil “Collins” Cocktail with muddled basil
Opt for a Lavender Collins with lavender simple syrup
Grab a Vodka Collins with vodka

When to Serve a John Collins

A John Collins is a classic cocktail that’s perfect for parties and entertaining, or happy hour. It’s great as a:

Summer patio drink
Happy hour drink for winding down the day
Dinner party drink, since guests can build their own (no need to shake!)

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a John Collins and a Tom Collins?

A Tom Collins is made with gin, while the John Collins is made with whiskey (usually bourbon). Everything else is the same: lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda water served in a tall glass over ice.

Why is it called a John Collins?

The name is thought to come from a waiter named John Collins who worked at a London hotel in the early 1800s. The original John Collins was a gin drink; it was renamed the Tom Collins in the 1870s after the Old Tom style of gin it used, and the “John” name eventually became attached to the whiskey version.

Can I make a John Collins without simple syrup?

Simple syrup works best for flavor, but you can use pure maple syrup or agave syrup as a substitute. Honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water) also works and adds a cozy flavor that pairs well with bourbon.