Whiskey Collins - Bourbon, Lemon & Soda Highball Cocktail

Tall, citrusy, and sparkling, the Whiskey Collins puts bourbon into the familiar Collins formula of spirit, lemon, sugar, and soda. The whiskey gives the drink more oak and richness than its gin-based relatives, while fresh lemon and carbonated water keep the finish bright. It is an approachable bourbon highball when you want something lighter than a spirit-forward whiskey cocktail.

Background

The Whiskey Collins belongs to the broader Collins family of tall drinks built around a base spirit, lemon, sweetener, and soda water. Whiskey versions have appeared under several Collins-style names, but the exact origin of this particular variation is not firmly documented. It is best understood as a whiskey adaptation of the established Collins formula rather than a drink with one definitive origin story.

What You'll Need

Ingredients

• Bourbon - provides the whiskey backbone with oak, vanilla, and caramel character.
• Lemon juice - supplies the fresh acidity needed to balance the bourbon and syrup.
• Simple syrup - rounds out the lemon without adding extra flavor.
• Carbonated water - lengthens the cocktail and gives it its crisp, sparkling finish.

No bourbon? Rye whiskey makes a spicier version while staying firmly within the whiskey family. Club soda can replace carbonated water directly.

Equipment

• Cocktail shaker
• Jigger
• Cocktail strainer
• Collins glass
• Bar spoon

Why Bourbon Works in a Collins

Bourbon brings more weight and barrel character than gin, but the Collins structure stops it from becoming heavy. Lemon cuts through the whiskey's richer notes, simple syrup softens the acidity, and soda stretches the drink into a long, crisp serve. The result sits neatly between a whiskey sour and a whiskey highball.

Substitutions & Variations

• Use rye whiskey for a drier, spicier Collins.
• Try Irish whiskey for a lighter, softer whiskey profile.
• Swap simple syrup for honey syrup to add floral depth and a slightly richer finish.
• Use club soda in place of carbonated water for an easy one-for-one substitution.
• Add aromatic bitters for a spiced variation, while recognizing that bitters are not required for the basic Whiskey Collins build.

Helpful Tips

• Use fresh lemon juice because there are few ingredients to hide dull citrus.
• Shake only the bourbon, lemon juice, and syrup. Add the soda after straining.
• Use fresh ice in the Collins glass rather than transferring shaker ice.
• Pour the carbonated water gently and stir only enough to combine.
• Chill the glass beforehand if possible to help the drink stay cold and lively.
• An orange wheel and maraschino cherry complement bourbon without overcrowding the garnish.
• For several servings, pre-mix the bourbon, lemon juice, and syrup. Shake individual portions and add soda immediately before serving.