John Collins
A whiskey Collins: spirit, lemon, sugar, and soda in a tall glass.
Base spirit
Whiskey
Style
Highball
Glassware
Collins glass
Technique
Build
The John Collins applies the Collins template to whiskey instead of gin. Lemon, sugar, and soda keep it bright while whiskey adds warmth. Served tall over ice, it sits beside the Tom Collins as a core sparkling sour-highball.
Ingredients
Servings
- • 2 oz bourbon or whiskey
- • 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- • 0.5 oz simple syrup
- • 3 oz club soda
Did you know?
“Collins family drinks share a 19th-century highball-sour structure; the John Collins specifies whiskey where the Tom uses gin.”
Source:Classic Collins family histories
Bartender's Note
Bourbon is common; rye makes it drier. Shake whiskey, lemon, and sugar first if you want a colder, frothier start, then top with soda.
Missing a bottle? See smart swaps in Learn.
How to make the John Collins
- 1Shake whiskey, lemon, and syrup with ice (or build)
- 2Strain into a Collins glass over ice
- 3Top with soda
- 4Garnish with orange and optional cherry
