Raspberry Collins
A Raspberry Collins is a bright, fizzy gin cocktail with lemon, fresh berries, and a splash of soda. It tastes tart, lightly sweet, and very refreshing without being fussy.
- Total time
- 5 min
- Yield
- 1 cocktail
- Difficulty
- Easy
Prep 5mCook 0mAmericanDrinks
A classic Collins is a tall, bubbly drink made with gin, lemon, sugar, and soda water. This raspberry version adds fresh berries for color, fragrance, and a little jammy tartness.
You do not need special bar skills to make it. Muddle the berries, shake the citrus and gin with ice, then top the drink with club soda so it stays sparkling.
Use a dry gin if you like a crisp cocktail, or a softer, floral gin if you want the berries to stand out more. Either way, serve it cold in a tall glass with plenty of ice.
01What you'll need
Ingredients
6 items · 1 cocktail
- 6 fresh raspberries, about 18 grams
- 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 ounce raspberry simple syrup
- 2 ounces gin
- Ice, for shaking and serving
- 2 to 3 ounces chilled club soda
02How to make it
Step-by-step
1. Chill the glass
Fill a Collins glass or any tall glass with ice and let it sit while you mix the drink. A cold glass helps the cocktail stay fizzy longer.
2. Muddle the berries
Add the raspberries to a cocktail shaker. Gently press them with a muddler or the back of a spoon until they release their juice. Muddling means pressing ingredients to break them down, not smashing them into a paste.
3. Add the sour and sweet
Pour in the fresh lemon juice and raspberry simple syrup. Fresh lemon juice gives the drink a cleaner, brighter flavor than bottled juice.
4. Add the gin and ice
Pour in the gin, then fill the shaker about halfway with ice. This gives the cocktail enough chill and dilution, which means a small amount of melted ice softens the drink.
5. Shake until cold
Seal the shaker and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds, until the outside feels very cold. If you do not have a shaker, use a jar with a tight lid.
6. Strain into the glass
Dump the ice from the chilled glass if it has melted a lot, then refill with fresh ice. Strain the shaken mixture into the glass. Use a fine-mesh strainer too if you want fewer raspberry seeds.
7. Top with soda
Slowly pour in the chilled club soda. Stir once or twice with a long spoon to combine without knocking out too many bubbles.
8. Serve right away
Serve the Raspberry Collins immediately while it is cold and sparkling.
03From our kitchen
Cook's tips
- Make-ahead: You can juice the lemon and make or buy the raspberry simple syrup ahead. Keep them chilled, then shake the drink just before serving.
- Storage: A finished Collins does not store well because the soda goes flat. If needed, mix the gin, lemon juice, syrup, and muddled raspberries up to 2 hours ahead, refrigerate, then shake with ice and add soda when serving.
- Raspberry syrup swap: If you do not have raspberry simple syrup, use plain simple syrup and add 2 extra raspberries. The drink will be a little less pink but still good.
- Gin swap: Vodka works if you prefer a cleaner berry-lemon flavor, though the drink will no longer taste like a classic Collins.
- Sweetness adjustment: For a tarter drink, use 1/2 ounce syrup. For a sweeter drink, use 1 ounce syrup.
- Seed-free option: Double strain the drink through the shaker strainer and a fine-mesh strainer to catch raspberry seeds and pulp.
Cook's note
To make a quick raspberry simple syrup, simmer 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, and 1/2 cup raspberries for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Mash the berries lightly, cool, strain, and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
04Frequently asked
Questions & answers
Can I make a Raspberry Collins without a cocktail shaker?
Yes. Use a clean jar with a tight lid. Add the muddled raspberries, lemon juice, syrup, gin, and ice, then shake until cold. Strain into a glass and top with club soda.
What kind of gin is best for this drink?
A London dry gin gives the cocktail a crisp, classic flavor. A floral or citrusy gin also works well with raspberries and lemon. Avoid very smoky or strongly spiced gins unless you already know you like them in fruity drinks.
Can I use frozen raspberries?
Yes. Thaw them first so they muddle easily and release juice. Frozen raspberries are often softer than fresh, so double strain if you want a smoother drink.
How do I make this less sweet?
Use 1/2 ounce raspberry simple syrup instead of 3/4 ounce, or add a little extra lemon juice. Taste before adding the soda so you can adjust the balance.
Can I make a nonalcoholic Raspberry Collins?
Yes. Skip the gin and use 2 ounces of cold water, alcohol-free gin, or unsweetened iced tea. Shake with the lemon, syrup, and raspberries, then top with club soda.
05Per serving
Nutrition facts
Nutrition Facts
1 cocktail
Amount per serving
% Daily Value*
- Total Fat0 g
- 0%
- Saturated Fat0 g
- 0%
- Cholesterol0 mg
- 0%
- Sodium10 mg
- 0%
- Total Carbohydrate16 g
- 6%
- Dietary Fiber1 g
- 4%
- Total Sugars14 g
- Protein0 g
- 0%
- Vitamin D0 mcg
- 0%
- Calcium6 mg
- 0%
- Iron0.1 mg
- 1%
- Potassium50 mg
- 1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
05Keep cooking
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