Rum Collins Cocktail Recipe

A Rum Collins brings a bright, crisp twist to a classic cocktail. It swaps gin for rum, so you get this smooth tropical edge that feels both familiar and new.

You can make a Rum Collins easily with a few simple ingredients and basic bar tools.

I love how this drink balances sweet, sour, and fizzy notes without feeling heavy. It’s perfect for warm days or those casual get-togethers when you want something refreshing but not too strong.

The mix of rum, lemon juice, sugar, and soda water keeps it light and clean. It’s just really easy to enjoy.

Rum Collins Cocktail Recipe

The Rum Collins blends light rum, lemon juice, and soda water into a crisp, balanced drink. I find it refreshing, simple to make, and you can easily adjust the sweetness or tartness to your taste.

Equipment

To make a Rum Collins, I grab a few basic bar tools.

• Collins glass or highball glass
• Cocktail shaker with a tight lid
• Jigger for measuring
• Bar spoon
• Strainer
• Citrus juicer
• Ice cubes

Fresh juice and clean tools really keep the drink tasting bright and smooth. A tall glass leaves plenty of room for soda water and garnish.

Ingredients

I stick with fresh and simple ingredients to keep the flavor light.

• 2 oz light rum
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz simple syrup (1:1 sugar and water)
• 2–3 oz soda water or club soda
• Ice cubes
• Optional: a few drops of lime juice for extra tartness
• Garnish: lemon slice and maraschino cherry

Fresh citrus really makes a difference. I’ll adjust the syrup to taste—less for a sharper drink, more if I want it mellow.

Instructions

• Fill your shaker with ice.
• Add light rum, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
• Shake for about 10 seconds until everything’s cold.
• Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice.
• Top with soda water or club soda.
• Stir gently with a bar spoon.
• Garnish with a lemon slice and maraschino cherry.

I always taste and tweak before serving. If it’s too sweet, I’ll splash in a bit more lemon juice or soda water.

Notes

I only use fresh lemon juice—the bottled stuff just doesn’t taste as clean. Light rum brings a smooth base, but sometimes I’ll use dark rum if I’m after a richer drink.

The bubbles from carbonated water or club soda make the drink lively, so I pour them in last to keep the fizz going.

Sometimes I’ll swap in a lime wheel for garnish or skip the cherry if I’m not in a sweet mood. Keeping the drink cold and lightly carbonated really makes it shine.

Tasting Notes

The Rum Collins tastes lighter and a bit fruitier than a classic Tom Collins. That rum brings a soft sweetness, just enough to balance out the tart lemon juice.

It feels crisp, not heavy at all, and honestly, every sip is kind of refreshing.

Right away, I taste the bright citrus. There’s this sharp, clean start that really wakes up my palate.

After that, the rum comes in and smooths things out with some gentle warmth that hangs around for a moment.

I love how the bubbles from the club soda lift everything up. The drink feels lively, never too sweet.

The texture reminds me of a Tom Collins, but there’s a tropical twist here that I can’t ignore.

When I bring it up to my nose, I catch hints of lemon zest and sugar. The aroma is simple, fresh—makes me think of warm afternoons and easy conversation.

Compared to a gin-based Collins, this one feels softer, rounder somehow. The rum leaves a mellow finish that kind of makes me want another sip.