Tequila Collins Recipe
Written by Summer gets more exciting with this easy-to-make Tequila Collins recipe! The Tequila, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda make it a refreshing cocktail for the season.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 194
Ingredients
- 2 oz Tequila
- 1 oz lemon juice
- ¾ oz simple syrup
- 3-4 oz club soda
- Lemon slice or twist - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Collins Glass
- Measuring Jigger
- Stirrer or Bar Spoon
- Shaker
- Cocktail Strainer
- Fine strainer
- Bar spoon or long stirrer
Instructions
- Prep Glass: Fill your Collins glass with ice cubes. Give it a stir to chill it and set it aside.
- Add Simple Syrup: Pour ¾ oz simple syrup into the shaker.
- Add Lemon Juice: Add 1 oz lemon juice.
- Add Tequila: Pour 2 oz Tequila into the shaker as well.
- Shake: Fill the shaker with ice, close it and give it a good shake (10-15 seconds).
- Strain: Take the Collins glass, discard the ice inside and refill with new, fresh ice cubes. Then, use the cocktail strainer to strain the shaken drink into the ice filled glass.
- Top with Soda: Top off with approx. 3-4 oz club soda (adjust to taste and to the size of the glass).
- Stir: Using a bar spoon or long stirrer, stir gently to combine.
- Garnish: Garnish with a lemon slice or zest or slice and serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Tequila: If you're looking for a twist on this cocktail or simply are out of Tequila, you can use mezcal as a substitute. Mezcal is another type of agave spirit, often carrying smoky flavors, that will work just great in this cocktail.
- Lemon Juice: Lime juice can be used instead of lemon juice if needed. It will give your drink a slightly more tropical flavor. Freshly squeezed juice is always the best option, but bottled juice will work as well if you’re out of fresh lemons.
- Simple Syrup: If you're out of simple syrup, you can make your own by dissolving equal parts sugar and water over low heat. Alternatively, agave nectar or honey syrup (2 parts honey to 1 part hot water) can be used, but they will add their flavors to the drink.
Making a Pitcher of Tequila Collins:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of Tequila, 8 oz of fresh lemon juice, and 6 oz of simple syrup.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the Tequila, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Add ice and stir well.
- Serve: Strain to remove the ice and serve immediately into ice-filled Collins glasses. Top each glass up with soda water, garnish with a lemon slice or twist and serve immediately. If you have some leftovers, be sure to keep it in the fridge (make sure no ice cubes are left inside) in an airtight container.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Tequila Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic tequila substitute; these are available and reasonably mimic Tequila's flavor. Otherwise, you can use fresh orange juice as a substitute. You can also try making your own substitute by mixing together water, a pinch of smoked salt, a splash of tonic and a bit of agave syrup (to taste).
- Proceed As Usual: Use this non-alcoholic substitute instead of the regular Tequila, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.