Definition

Noun: - A tall, cold mixed drink typically made with a distilled spirit (most commonly gin), lemon juice, sugar, and carbonated water (such as club soda), served over ice in a tall glass.

Usage

• As a common noun: Refers to the specific cocktail.
  • "I'll have a Tom Collins, please."
  • "The bartender is famous for his perfect Tom Collins."
• As a proper noun: When referring to the drink by its full, specific name.
  • "The Tom Collins is a classic summer cocktail."

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used generically to describe the style of drink, even when the base spirit is not gin. In such cases, the spirit's name often precedes "Collins" (e.g., a or a ). However, "Tom Collins" traditionally and specifically implies the use of gin.
  • "I don't like gin. Can I get a Tom Collins made with vodka instead?" (Here, the speaker uses "Tom Collins" to mean the Collins style, though the bartender would likely clarify it as a Vodka Collins.)

Variants and Related Words

• Collins: The family name for this category of tall, iced, carbonated cocktails. "Tom Collins" is the most famous variant.
• John Collins: A very similar historical drink, sometimes considered synonymous with a Tom Collins or differentiated by the use of Holland gin (genever) or a specific type of sugar syrup.
• [Spirit] Collins: A drink made in the Tom Collins style but with a different base liquor (e.g., , ).

Synonyms

• Gin Collins: A direct synonym emphasizing the primary spirit.
• Collins cocktail: A more formal or descriptive synonym.

Notes on Different Meanings

• "Tom Collins" refers exclusively to the alcoholic beverage. It is not used as a person's name in modern context, though it originates from a popular 19th-century practical joke and song about a fictional person of that name.

Noun

1. tall iced drink of liquor (usually gin) with fruit juice