• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Flour Child logo

  • About Us
  • Recipes
  • Privacy
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Classic Cocktails
  • Dinners
  • About Us
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Classic Cocktails » The Rum Collins is Good Enough to Die For

    Published: Jan 15, 2021 · Modified: Feb 25, 2022 by Kevin Mayfield · This post may contain affiliate links.

    The Rum Collins is Good Enough to Die For

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    You don't need to be an international Ian Fleming super villain to enjoy a refreshing Rum Collins!

    Rum Collins with palm trees and a bottle of rum
    Tall and refreshing with a taste of the islands, the Rum Collins is fan favorite!

    Rum is the Star in this Collins

    When it comes to cocktails, almost anything that James Bond drank in the early, iconic spy movies is a perfect example of mid century style. This drink made its debut in 1965's Thunderball starring Sean Connery.

    I always liked it when Bond went into the villain's lair and was offered a drink. You never knew what he was going to get; perhaps a vintage champagne or a swanky cocktail you'd never heard of. In this case, Largo (the villain) offered Bond and several of his henchmen a Rum Collins to drink. Sure, the Rum Collins is similar to a Tom Collins, but instead of gin, this one uses light rum and lime juice. The combination really gives the cocktail the Caribbean feel of the Bahamas, where the movie was filmed.

    Meet the Collins Family

    You may recall that we introduced the Tom Collins earlier. The Collins craze started in the late 1800's and continued to be popular during Prohibition because the gin was readily available, but tasted awful. Because the Tom Collins used sugar and soda water, it masked the poor-tasting gin. Over the years, there have been a number of Collins cocktails made with gin, bourbon and even tequila.

    Ingredients for a Rum Collins

    This tasty take on a Collins is pretty straightforward, and requires just a few ingredients:

    • Rum
    • Fresh squeezed lime juice
    • Powdered sugar
    • Soda water
    • Lemon wheel and cherry garnish

    And don't forget the ice -- this drink is best when it is served ice cold.

    Tips for Success

    Here's a few pointers on serving up a great-tasting Rum Collins.

    • Use a quality Rum for mixing. Inferior-tasting Rum will impact the flavor of your drink. This is why I prefer to drink a gold rum rather than a white or silver rum. A gold rum has been aged in a charred oak barrel. My personal preference is for the aged rum which has a smoother taste and is not as sweet as a white rum.
    • Take the time to fresh squeeze your lime juice. The pre-bottled lime juices often have added sugar which can make your cocktail too sweet.

    What's your favorite 007 cocktail?

    Rum Collins with palm trees and a bottle of rum

    The Rum Collins is Good Enough to Die For

    Kevin Mayfield
    This Caribbean take on a Tom Collins is perfect on a hot day.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 3 minutes mins
    Total Time 3 minutes mins
    Course Classic Cocktails
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 Cocktail
    Calories 146 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 ounces rum
    • 1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
    • 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
    • Splash of seltzer
    • Lemon wheel and cherry for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Add two scoops of ice to a cocktail shaker.
    • Add all ingredients in shaker and stir for about 30 seconds to chill.
    • Strain into a tall Collins glass.
    • Add garnishes.

    Notes

    It's really worthwhile to use fresh squeezed lime juice rather than from a bottle for a really crisp, refreshing taste without added sugar.
    You can substitute lemon juice instead of lime juice, as there are variations of the recipe. The lime juice gives it more of a Caribbean feel and the lemon juice keeps it similar to a traditional gin Tom Collins.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 146kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gFat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 34mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 14IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword 1960's cocktails, Bond Cocktails, Caribbean cocktails, madmen cocktails, mid century cocktails, rat pack cocktails, Rum Collins, rum drinks, Tom Collins variations
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Mid Century Classic Cocktails

    • An apple butter old fashioned cocktail in a tumbler with apples and fall-related items in the background
      Sip into Fall: How to Make the Perfect Apple Butter Old-Fashioned Cocktail
    • El Presidente cocktail in a cocktail glass with a twist of orange peel
      The Classic El Presidente Rum Cocktail
    • An amaretto sour cocktail in a small glass with orange slice and cherry
      Simple Amaretto Sour Cocktail
    • The simple, elegant Manhattan cocktail with Bourbon in a cocktail glass
      Classic Manhattan Cocktail with Bourbon

    About Kevin Mayfield

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kate says

      June 03, 2023 at 3:02 pm

      Nancy, The Rum Collins sounds tasty! What type of bar soon for the sugar? Can you please state in teaspoons or mL? Thanks 😊

      Reply
      • Nancy says

        June 06, 2023 at 5:16 pm

        Hi Kate, An American bar spoon is equal to 1 teaspoon, or 5 ml. I have updated the recipe card to reflect 1 teaspoon. Thank you for your feedback!

        Reply
    2. Kent says

      July 11, 2023 at 4:51 pm

      5 stars
      When Tom Collins mix disappeared I decided to just use Squirt. Not the right fruit flavor, but a damned fine mixer.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Nancy and Bentley

    Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

    More about me →

      Summer Favorites

      • A stack of grilled beef ribs on a wooden cutting board.
        Grilled Barbecued Beef Short Ribs
      • Six ears of grilled, browned corn stacked on a wooden serving tray.
        Grilled Corn on the Cob (In the Husk)
      • A pitcher of old fashioned lemonade ready to pour into the 4 surrounding glasses that are garnished with a lemon wedge.
        Old Fashioned Homemade Lemonade
      • A cast iron skillet full of barbecued beans, with a wooden spoon set on the edge of the pan.
        Fast and Easy Homemade Barbecued Beans
      • A serving of classic potato salad on a green salad plate. Paprika is sprinkled on top.
        Classic Potato Salad Recipe
      • A rectangular serving plate with 7 watermelon wedges stacked, with a large square serving plate behind it and one quarter of a whole watermelon on it.
        Sliced Watermelon Wedges

      Soups & Stews

      • Cream of Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
      • A bowl of lasagna soup with shredded cheese on top and basil garnish. A glass of wine and a hot roll are pictured next to the bowl.
        Easy Lasagna Soup (Stovetop and Crockpot Methods)
      • Bowl of simple lentil soup served with French bread on the side.
        Simple Lentil Soup Recipe
      • A close up image of vegetable barley soup in a white bowl
        Old Fashioned Vegetable Barley Soup
      • Super Bowl Chili Is The Perfect Football Food
      • Two bowls of beef burgundy stew with a loaf of French bread sitting on a table
        Beef Burgundy Stew - Warm Comfort on a Cold Night

      Popular Recipes

      • Two large cinnamon apple pancakes on a black plate with apple topping and maple syrup running down the sides.
        Cinnamon Apple Pancakes with Apple & Brown Sugar Topping
      • Boneless apple cider pork chops on a serving platter, topped with cooked apples and surrounded with fresh sprigs of parsley.
        Boneless Apple Cider Pork Chops
      • Candy Apple Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
      • Apple butter on top of a fluffy biscuit on a white plate.
        Homemade Slow Cooked Apple Butter

      • Email
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      Nancy and Bentley

      Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

      More about me →

        Summer Favorites

        • A stack of grilled beef ribs on a wooden cutting board.
          Grilled Barbecued Beef Short Ribs
        • Six ears of grilled, browned corn stacked on a wooden serving tray.
          Grilled Corn on the Cob (In the Husk)
        • A pitcher of old fashioned lemonade ready to pour into the 4 surrounding glasses that are garnished with a lemon wedge.
          Old Fashioned Homemade Lemonade
        • A cast iron skillet full of barbecued beans, with a wooden spoon set on the edge of the pan.
          Fast and Easy Homemade Barbecued Beans
        • A serving of classic potato salad on a green salad plate. Paprika is sprinkled on top.
          Classic Potato Salad Recipe
        • A rectangular serving plate with 7 watermelon wedges stacked, with a large square serving plate behind it and one quarter of a whole watermelon on it.
          Sliced Watermelon Wedges

        Soups & Stews

        • A bowl of baked potato soup topped with bacon, green onions, shredded cheddar, and a dollop of sour cream
          The Best Baked Potato Soup
        • Split Pea and Ham Soup is an Old Fashioned Meal in a Bowl
        • Traditional Navy Bean Soup in a blue bowl with spoon.
          Navy Bean Soup is a Traditional Favorite

        Popular Recipes

        • Apple Brown Betty in a parfait glass, with a scoop of ice cream and a cinnamon stick on top.
          Apple Brown Betty: An Orchard to Oven Treat
        • Carmel apple with a wooden stick set on a piece of parchment paper, ready to serve.
          Easy Taffy Apples Recipe (Caramel Apples)
        • A garden salad on a white salad plate, with Thousand Island dressing being spooned over it.
          Homemade Thousand Island Dressing
        • Lipton California Dip inside a small dipping bowl with a potato chip on the top for garnish.
          Lipton California Dip (Lipton Onion Soup Dip)

        Footer

        ↑ back to top

        About

        • Privacy Policy
        • Accessibility Policy

        Newsletter

        • Sign Up! for emails and updates

        Contact

        • Contact

        As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

        Copyright © 2022 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme