Here is a summer cocktail we have been making on repeat this summer! It’s refreshing and super easy to make. Mostly because this doesn’t require a cocktail shaker, which in and of itself doesn’t make a recipe hard, but it’s just more thing to clean and more steps. ;)

Tom Collins is one of Chad’s favorite cocktails – he is a gin guy through and through. A classic Tom Collins is made with gin, lemon juice, sugar, and carbonated water. This grapefruit variety we had in a restaurant this summer and quickly came home to recreate it! If you are a gin lover, you will love this! I am not even a huge gin drinker and I love this so much, so it’s really for anyone who loves a good, refreshing cocktail.

If you wanted to sub vodka, I have a similar drink here that calls for vodka - it’s a grapefruit spritz!

Here is what you will need for this cocktail.

Ice (we prefer the bagged ice you get at the grocery store or gas station for this cocktail recipe. My parents always refer to this as “the good ice” and I find myself saying the same thing!)
Gin
Lemon Juice (juice from about ½ - 1 lemon)
Simple Syrup
Grapefruit Sparkling Drink (here is the Fevertree one we LOVE! This is the only one we will use for cocktails that call for sparkling grapefruit, it’s so good! You can find at Target, here)
Herb sprig to garnish. I love using fresh herbs from our garden to garnish a cocktail. For this one I have used mint or rosemary! I think it is so pretty and makes it feel fresh.

Before you make cocktails, it’s a good idea to make a simple syrup and have it in the fridge ready to go. We just store ours in a mason jar with a lid or some sort of container to pour from.

Simple Syrup Recipe

1 cup white sugar

1 cup water

In a pot in the stove, put 1 cup of white sugar and 1 cup of water.
Bring to a boil, stirring a few times to dissolve the sugar at the beginning.
Once it is boiling, turn off the stove and remove from the heat and let set until cooled.
Store in the refrigerator and use for cocktails. This will keep a month if in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

You can always buy a store-bought simple syrup, but it’s honestly so easy to make on the stove that a homemade one is no-big deal.

Okay, now that you have your simple syrup, it’s time for the cocktail!!!

Here is the recipe. This will make 1 cocktail.

Hope you enjoy this as much as we have! We love making one at night while sitting on our back patio or on our front porch. Or late afternoon on the weekend while the kids play.

The COCKTAIL Recipe

Grapefruit Tom Collins

Ice
2 ounces Gin
½ ounce simple syrup
1 ounce of lemon juice (about 1 lemon or ½ lemon)
Fevertree Sparkling Grapefruit Drink to top the cocktail
Fresh herbs, like mint or rosemary, to garnish, if desired.

Directions:

In a cocktail tall glass, fill it up with ice.
Add the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and then top the rest with the grapefruit drink.
Stir slowly to combine.
Add a fresh herb to garnish, like mint, if desired.

Enjoy!

If you make this cocktail, don’t forget to share it on your social media and tag me at @urban.apron so I can see it and we can connect! I love seeing you make these recipes I love so much!