The John Collins is a classic cocktail from the United Kingdom. It is traditionally made with gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and carbonated water, served over ice in a tall glass and garnished with a lemon slice and a cherry. The drink is part of the broader “Collins” family of drinks, which use spirits, lemon juice, sugar, and soda water.

The origins of the John Collins date to at least the early 19th century. References to the cocktail and its recipe appear in British bar manuals from the 1860s and earlier. The drink is named after John Collins, who was a head waiter at Limmer’s Old House in Conduit Street, London, in the 1830s. The connection between Collins and the drink comes from a widely circulated song and anecdotal records from the period, although the exact circumstances are debated.

The John Collins cocktail originally specified Holland gin, known as genever, before London dry gin became more common in the United Kingdom. By the late 19th century, gin was the standard spirit used. The drink closely resembles the Tom Collins, which uses Old Tom gin—a slightly sweeter gin. The difference in names reflects the type of gin originally specified for each drink.

The base recipe is: 2 oz gin, 1 oz lemon juice, 0.5 oz simple syrup, topped with carbonated water, served in a tall glass with ice. The John Collins is included in classic cocktail books, including Harry Johnson’s Bartender's Manual (1882) and “The Savoy Cocktail Book” (1930).

Related cocktails using other base spirits, such as the Bourbon Collins, have been documented. The Collins family of drinks remains popular and widely served in bars.