The cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda water is a Tom Collins.
A Tom Collins is a tall, refreshing Collins cocktail typically served over ice in a Collins glass. Its core structure combines gin with tart lemon juice, sugar syrup for balance, and carbonated water for lift. A lemon slice and maraschino cherry are common garnishes.
The drink’s documented history reaches back to nineteenth-century American bartending. Harry Johnson’s 1882 bartender’s manual included a Tom Collins made with Old Tom gin, lemon or lime juice, sugar, ice, and club soda. The name is also linked to the famous 1874 “Have you seen Tom Collins?” hoax, although the drink’s exact naming history remains debated.
The most frequent confusion is with a Gin Fizz. Both contain gin, citrus, sugar, and carbonation, but a Tom Collins usually has more lemon juice and is a longer drink served over ice. A John Collins is closely related and is traditionally associated with London dry gin.