John Collins Cocktail

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PREP TIME 5 min

Cocktail Type

Bourbon

Great for

Dinner Party

Difficulty

Easy

Front view of John Collins Cocktail garnished with Lemon Wedges and a Maraschino cherry

Whether you’re a die-hard bourbon lover or simply loathe doing the washing up at the end of a party, our John Collins cocktail is made for you. Unlike the other Collins family cocktails, which are made with gin, this one’s swirled with bourbon, and it’s the easiest and best John Collins cocktail recipe you can make at home. Savor its notes of warm caramel and vanilla – and the reassuring fact this refreshing drink can be made at a moment’s notice.

 

QUICK TIPS

01

A perfect beginner’s cocktail, no special tools needed, just pour!

02

A simple syrup is super simple to make, take a peek at our easy recipe!

03

Pairs perfectly with any food, so makes a perfect pre-dinner drink or just as delish as a nightcap

INGREDIENTS

MAKE FOR

1 Person

1.5 Oz

45 Ml

1.5 Parts

1 Oz

30 Ml

1 Parts

lemon juice
0.5 Oz

15 Ml

0.5 Parts

simple syrup
2 Oz

60 Ml

2 Parts

club soda
to garnish, a Maraschino cherry and a slice of orange
ice

INSTRUCTIONS

01

Fill a Collins or hi-ball glass with ice and add the bourbon, lemon juice, and syrup and stir thoroughly to combine

02

Top up with soda water and garnish with a cherry and an orange slice

The best John Collins cocktail recipe ingredients

Our John Collins recipe needs no special tools at all, not even a cocktail shaker! This easy drink is made straight into a Collins glass filled with ice and topped up with soda to taste – it doesn’t get simpler. We suggest you choose a top-shelf bourbon like Wild Turkey to deliver sweet vanilla and oak notes that blend brilliantly with zesty fresh lemon juice.

John Collins vs Tom Collins

With two Collins cocktails making the rounds, it’s easy to get confused so let us explain the key differences between a John Collins and a Tom Collins cocktail. They have many similarities – for starters, they’re both served in a namesake Collins glass, a tall glass that typically holds about 12-16oz, making this a long serve. Both drinks also contain a mixture of lemon juice, sugar syrup, and club soda but the spirit choice is where these two cocktails differ. While a Tom Collins is made with a London Dry gin, a John Collins has taken a modern twist and swaps the gin for bourbon whiskey for a dramatically different flavor profile. A John Collins is a lot like a Whiskey Sour cocktail but is made longer with the addition of club soda.

 

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This is a refreshing cocktail to enjoy whatever the weather; it’s a cooling sip on hot days in the summer but, at the same time, the sweet bourbon flavors are warming and cozy to enjoy on colder days and at winter dinner parties. Since it’s so simple to make and doesn’t require many ingredients, the John Collins is a great cocktail to have up your sleeve for chilled nights in with friends, parties and dinner dates. Bourbon fans could also serve this simple sipper as a wedding cocktail or as an after-dinner drink.

You mix up a John Collins cocktail with bourbon or whiskey, freshly squeezed lemon juice, a simple sugar syrup and finally club soda. It’s served over ice for a refreshing drink that everyone will adore.