Vodka Collins (A Twist on a Classic)

The Vodka Collins is a sweet-tart spin on a classic Tom Collins. This bubbly drink recipe always hits the spot.

It’s tall, it’s bubbly, and it goes down easy: it’s the Vodka Collins! This spin on the Tom Collins is essentially a sparkling vodka lemonade. It’s also a classic. The base drink goes all the way back to the 1870s, when cocktails were just starting to emerge. While the name of the original is up for debate, the flavor of my favorite twist on it isn’t. Take one sip for a sweet-tart, bubbly, and ultra refreshing finish. It’s a vodka drink at the top of my favorites.

What’s in a Vodka Collins?

The Vodka Collins cocktail is a highball drink with vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda water. It’s a spin on the classic cocktail, the Tom Collins, which dates back to at least 1869. Over the years, it’s spawned other variations like the John Collins with whiskey, and the tall glass it’s served in is often called a “Collins glass.”

Exactly when the Vodka Collins came along is unknown, but it’s a popular variation on the theme. You might not immediately notice, but the ingredients are the same as a sparkling vodka lemonade. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• Vodka
• Lemon juice
• Simple syrup
• Soda water (club soda or sparkling water)

How to make it

Like most highball cocktails, you can build a Vodka Collins in the glass! That means no need for dirtying a cocktail shaker. Here’s what to do:

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

Notes on soda water

Soda water is our catch-all term for sparkling water, club soda, and seltzer. Here are the various options for adding bubbles to a Vodka Collins:

• Seltzer, aka soda water or sparkling water, is carbonated water with no additives. It’s carbonated by injecting carbon dioxide (CO2), and the base for brands like La Croix or what comes out of a SodaStream. Sparkling mineral water is made with water from a mineral spring, like Perrier or Topo Chico. You can use any of these to make a Vodka Collins!
• Club soda is carbonated water infused with added minerals, which give it a salty or lightly sweet flavor. It’s just as good as the above options, and you won’t notice a major flavor difference.

Step it up: garnishes and clear ice

You can make a Vodka Collins with no garnishes, but it’ll look like a glass of water. (It’ll still taste great, though!) Here’s how to really make it shine with a few add-ons:

• Add a lemon wheel and a cocktail cherry. These small touches take the drink to the next level.
• Use clear ice! Clear ice is crystal clear ice cubes instead of cloudy ice from an ice tray. You can make it at home using a smaller cooler or a clear ice maker, and it’s the key to making an impressive drink.

My favorite variations

The Collins has spawned many variations with various liquors, syrups, and other flavorings. Here are our top favorite Collins drinks to try:

• Add whiskey for a John Collins.
• Try the herby Basil “Collins.”
• Taste a floral finish with a Lavender Collins Cocktail.

01

Tom Collins Cocktail

02

John Collins Cocktail

03

Lavender Collins Cocktail

04

Cucumber Collins

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