Tom Collins

In a sea of punchy, tequila-forward margaritas and herbaceous mojitos, the Tom Collins distinguishes itself with its subtle, refined character. The classic gin cocktail combines the spirit with lemon juice, sugar, and carbonated water into a drink that’s extremely simple to make and highly refreshing. It’s a descendant of the John Collins—made with gin’s precursor, genever—and dates back to 19th-century London, picking up its name from a popular tipple of the time: Old Tom gin. Today most Tom Collins recipes call for London dry gin, but if you have either of the above, feel free to swap it in for a totally different, but no less intriguing, flavor.

You’ll sweeten the drink with a rich simple syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water), but you don't even need a cocktail shaker for this easy recipe; just stir the elements together in the glass you plan to drink out of. If you have a Collins glass, by all means use it (the glass was named for the drink after all). If not, a highball glass will be fine. Some versions call for a maraschino cherry garnish or an orange slice. If you’re inclined to follow, check out our favorite cocktail cherries. We, however, tend to keep the flavors streamlined with just a half-moon of lemon.