Rum CollinsCocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
The Rum Collins is a bright, rum-led take on the familiar Collins template: spirit, citrus, sugar, and soda built long over ice in a highball. While the “Collins” name is most closely associated with gin, this variation sits comfortably in the same easygoing family of tall, sparkling sours—swapping in white rum for a lighter, subtly sweet backbone that keeps the drink breezy and sessionable.
You’ll find white rum brings a clean, gently sweet base that lets the lime take center stage. Fresh lime delivers a crisp, mouthwatering tartness, while a teaspoon of sugar smooths the edges and rounds the citrus into a more balanced, lemonade-like profile. Topped with soda water, everything lifts and lengthens: the bubbles brighten the lime, lighten the sweetness, and keep the finish snappy and refreshing.
Serve it when you want something uncomplicated and cooling—ideal for warm afternoons, casual get-togethers, or as a light aperitif before food. If you like Mojito-style freshness but prefer fewer moving parts and a drier, more straightforward citrus sparkle, this is right in your lane.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Cocktail Colin says:
White rum leads with clean cane sweetness, sharpened by lime’s bright acidity and rounded by a teaspoon of sugar, then stretched into a crisp, lightly fizzy finish as soda water tops it up. It works because the lime keeps the sugar from cloying while the bubbles lift the rum’s softness; ideal for anyone who likes simple, refreshing highballs with a citrus snap.
Method
How to make a Rum Collins
- White rum 60ml, Soda water Top up, Lime 1, Sugar Teaspoon
-
- Squeeze the juice from the lime
-
- Add to a cocktail shaker with the light rum, a teaspoon of sugar and ice, and shake until properly mixed and chilled
-
- Strain into a highball glass with ice and top up with the soda water
-
- Garnish with a slice of lemon and a cherry then serve
Power tips
Elevate the Rum Collins with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Always use fresh lime juice rather than bottled. Fresh juice prevents any residual bitterness that could come from the bottled version.
- Consider making a simple syrup (1 part sugar to 1 part water) instead of using granulated sugar for a smoother, more even sweetness.
- Upgrade to premium to receive even more power tips on this cocktail.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
What is the origin of the Rum Collins cocktail?
The Rum Collins belongs to the Collins family of cocktails, which originated in the mid-19th century. The original Collins is attributed to a headwaiter named John Collins of Limmer's Old House, in London. The traditional Collins is made with gin, but variations like the Rum Collins use rum as the base spirit, adapting the recipe to cater to different tastes.
Can I use a different type of rum other than white rum for a Rum Collins?
Yes, you can use different types of rum to make a Rum Collins, although white rum is preferred for its light and crisp flavor, which complements the tangy lime and sweetness of sugar. Other rums, like aged or dark rum, will give the cocktail a deeper flavor profile, which might be appealing depending on personal taste.
Is there a non-alcoholic version of the Rum Collins?
Yes, a non-alcoholic version of the Rum Collins can be made by substituting the rum with a non-alcoholic spirit or by omitting the alcohol altogether and increasing the amount of soda water. Non-alcoholic bitters can also be added to simulate the complexity of the alcohol. This version provides a similar refreshing experience without the alcohol.
How should I serve a Rum Collins for the best taste?
A Rum Collins should be served in a highball glass with plenty of ice. It's best enjoyed cold, so make sure to shake the mixture of lime, sugar, and rum with ice vigorously before straining it into the glass. Topping it off with soda water adds the necessary fizz. Garnish with a slice of lime or a lemon wheel to enhance the flavor.
What food pairs well with a Rum Collins?
The Rum Collins, with its refreshing and slightly sweet profile, pairs well with a wide range of foods. It's particularly good with light appetizers, seafood dishes, and grilled meats. The cocktail's crispness can cut through the richness of fried foods, making it a great companion for dishes like fish tacos, shrimp cocktail, or even barbecue.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Discover this citrus-forward blend of rum and lime.
El Floridita Daiquiri
White rum, Maraschino cherry liqueur, Lime juice, Sugar / simple syrup, Pink grapefruit juice
Try this sweet and creamy pineapple and coconut dream.
Piña colada
White rum, Pineapple juice, Coconut cream
Discover this vibrant mix of rum and fruit juices
Barbados Sunrise
White rum, Blue curaçao, Orange juice, Grenadine
Relish this classic mix of Cognac and Triple Sec
Between the sheets
Cognac, White rum, Triple sec, Lemon juice
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments