IBA
Casino – IBA
A citrus and sour gin cocktail ∙ Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 24.6% ABV ∙
The Casino is a shaken gin sour of Old Tom gin, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, and orange bitters, served over ice in an old-fashioned glass.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Old Tom gin 40 mlMaraschino liqueur 10 mlLemon juice 10 mlOrange bitters 2 dashes
- Strain into the chilled rocks glass with ice
- Garnish with a lemon twist and a maraschino cherry
Tips
- Shake hard with plenty of ice for 12-15 seconds. There's only 10 ml of lemon here, so the gin relies on the meltwater to soften it.
History
The Casino is a gin, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, and orange bitters cocktail long credited to Hugo Ensslin, who published a recipe for it in his 1916 book Recipes for Mixed Drinks while head bartender at New York's Hotel Wallick. Research has since traced an earlier printed version to 1909, in Jacob A. Didier's The Reminder, a pocket bartender's guide, though an even earlier edition may have circulated. Didier gave no background on the drink or its name.
The recipe is essentially the same base as the Aviation cocktail with the crème de violette omitted and orange bitters added instead, and it was carried forward largely unchanged when Harry Craddock reprinted it in The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930. A later variation, published by David Embury in 1948, replaced the orange bitters with orange juice.
FAQ
What's in a Casino cocktail?
40 ml Old Tom gin, 10 ml maraschino liqueur, 10 ml fresh lemon juice and 2 dashes of orange bitters.
What does a Casino cocktail taste like?
Gin-forward and bittersweet. Juniper and the rounder sweetness of Old Tom come first, then the cherry-almond taste of maraschino, and the lemon sharpens the finish. The orange bitters add a light spice, not sweetness.
Is a Casino cocktail shaken or stirred?
Shaken, hard, for 12 to 15 seconds with plenty of ice. There is only 10 ml of lemon, so the gin relies on meltwater from the shake to soften it.
What glass is a Casino cocktail served in?
An old-fashioned glass over ice, garnished with a lemon twist and a maraschino cherry.
