Classic Tom Collins cocktail made with homemade simple syrup, lemon, gin, and club soda. It's a refreshing drink

This classic Tom Collins cocktail is tangy and refreshing. If you've only had it made with the commercial mixers -- well trust me, you've never really had this old time favorite.

A tom collins cocktail in a highball glass with cherries in the background.

I missed last Saturday because I was sick in bed. I want to make Saturdays the day to post cocktail recipes because I realized that classic cocktails are becoming extinct and that made me sad. I mean, I've seen recipes for cocktails that have recently become popular and, quite frankly, the names are often disgusting even though the drinks might be yummy. I would rather drink a Tom Collins than an Alien Urine Sample, for example. Think of it as an adult version of fizzy lemonade. I remember these old classics from when I was a kid and once I started making them I understood why they were classic!

Yum!

A Tom Collins is a relatively simply cocktail made with lemon, gin, simple syrup, and club soda with a cherry in it. It's fizzy. It's tangy. It's delicious. I think it's one of those cocktails that everyone should know how to make. You know, put some Sinatra on, put out the fondue, and sip a classic cocktail - how cool is that?

Pretty cool!

I like this made with Sprite or Gingerale, too.

classic tom collins cocktail is a refreshing drink that is simple to make. Restlesschipotle.com

Tom Collins are served in high ball glasses which are generally tall and narrow. This helps to keep the bubbles in the drink. It's great if you have bar glasses but if you don't have several different kinds just use whatever glass you have. Use homemade simple syrup - it's easy to make. Just boil 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water for about a minute, or until the sugar is completely dissolved. It makes the clearest sweet tea and the best cocktails ever. Keep it in your fridge for up to a month.