John Collins
The bourbon-based cousin of the Tom Collins; whiskey, lemon, sugar and soda make a refreshing highball whose spirit base batches easily ahead of soda topping.
Ingredients
| Bourbon | 2 oz |
| Lemon juice | 1 oz |
| Simple syrup | 0.5 oz |
| Soda water | 2 oz |
| Total volume | 5.50 oz |
Garnish: Lemon wheel and cherry
Tip: change “Make” to scale the recipe, or switch units for the metric world.
How to make it
Built in the glass · Medium · about 2 minutes
- 1
Add the bourbon, lemon juice and simple syrup to the collins glass and fill with ice.
- 2
Top with the soda water.
- 3
Stir gently to combine.
- 4
Garnish with lemon wheel and cherry.
Tools you'll need
Making a batch for a party?
Here's a pre-calculated batch of 12 with 0% dilution water built in. Scale to any number with the batch calculator →
| Ingredient | × 12 | Bottles |
|---|---|---|
| Bourbon | 24.0 oz | 1 |
| Lemon juice | 12.0 oz | 1 |
| Simple syrup | 6.0 oz | 1 |
| Soda water | 24.0 oz | 1 |
BatchPour tools produce estimates for planning purposes only. Actual dilution, ABV, and ingredient yields vary by technique, ice temperature, and produce. Always taste and adjust. Drink responsibly.
If you like the John Collins, try…
Old Fashioned
whiskeyWhiskey, sugar, bitters — the original cocktail, built in the glass.
Whiskey Sour
whiskeyBourbon, lemon, and sweetener — the essential American sour.
Manhattan
whiskeyRye, sweet vermouth, bitters — the stately stirred classic.
Penicillin
whiskeyScotch, lemon, honey-ginger, peaty float — a modern classic.
John Collins FAQ
What's in a John Collins?
A classic John Collins is made with bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, soda water. It's built in the glass and served in a collins glass.
What is the ABV of a John Collins?
A classic John Collins is approximately 14.5% ABV — about 1.33 US standard drinks per serving once you account for dilution.
Should I shake or stir a John Collins?
Neither — the John Collins is built right in the glass, so no shaker or mixing glass is needed.
How do I batch John Collinss for a party?
Scale every ingredient by your guest count, then add no dilution water (built drinks dilute in the glass). The BatchPour batch calculator does the math for any number.