To be sure, the Tom Collins is a little boring on paper, but beyond its simplicity lies one of the great origin stories in cocktail history — complete with fake names, old-time pranks, and a debate over whether “Tom” was even the right guy in the first place. It’s a highball in structure, a sour in spirit, and still one of the most enduring templates ever poured over ice. But where did the Tom Collins actually come from? And how can something so classic still surprise and impress us all these years later? Here to discuss all of that and more is Allison Everitt, a Detroit-based bartender and founder of Fast Friends, a pop-up celebrating industry-led hospitality. Listen on (or read below) to discover Allison's Tom Collins recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe.

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Allison Everitt's Tom Collins Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients

- 2 ounces Old Tom Gin

- ½ ounce simple syrup (1:1)

- ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

- Garnish: lemon twist

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to a shaker tin with ice.

2. Shake until chilled and strain into a Collins glass.

3. Fill with ice and top with soda water.

4. Garnish with lemon twist.

The Tom Collins

The Buildout