Food Recipes Real Simple's Most Refreshing Two-Ingredient Tom Collins Recipe 4.7 (3) A single sip and you'll realize why Tom Collins has been called one of the best classic cocktails for centuries. It's strong, refreshing, and effortless to make. Most recipes for Tom Collins cocktails use four ingredients—gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda—but we cut it down to just two by swapping lemon soda for the simple syrup, carbonated water, and lemon juice. Mix the gin with the soda in a 1:2 ratio over ice, and serve in a highball glass (a must) with a lemon wedge and basil leaf garnish. By Betty Gold Betty Gold With more than a decade of experience writing and editing food and nutritional content, Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple and acting senior food editor at Well+Good. Betty has also spent time working in product analysis at Good Housekeeping and in food production on The Martha Stewart Show. Highlights: * Bachelor of Science in Food Studies & Nutrition from New York University * Industry professional for 11 years * Served on mastheads at Food Network, Bon Appetit, and Good Housekeeping Magazines * Worked in publications department at James Beard Foundation Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 12, 2020 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Getty Images Hands On Time: 5 mins Total Time: 5 mins Yield: 4 serves Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 2 ½ cups lemon soda (such as Sanpellegrino Limonata) ¾ cup gin lemon slices and fresh basil sprigs, for garnish Directions In a large pitcher, combine the soda and gin. Serve over ice. Garnish each glass with lemon slices and basil sprigs. Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 160 Calories 14g Carbs Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Calories 160 % Daily Value * Sodium 2mg 0% Total Carbohydrate 14g 5% Total Sugars 14g *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.