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Gin · Shake
A gin-forward classic with cherry liqueur, a touch of lemon and orange bitters. Old Tom Gin is a less dry style of gin. The drink is shaken and served over fresh ice, staying lean despite the liqueur.
As of: · Early 20th century
The gin leads, and it stays that way throughout the drink. Ten milliliters of maraschino, a cherry liqueur, lay a quiet, rather dry cherry note underneath. The same small amount of lemon pushes back without turning it into a sour. Two dashes of orange bitters add a bitter note of orange peel on top. With 40 milliliters of gin and only 20 milliliters of everything else, the Casino stays strong. Over the ice in the tumbler it dilutes slowly, becoming softer as it goes. It tastes fruity, yet it isn't sweet.
The Casino works well before a meal and on quiet evenings. It's made for people who love gin and can handle a touch of fruit alongside it. Beginners often find it more approachable than a Martini, since the liqueur and lemon smooth out the edges. Still, it isn't exactly mild. The maraschino also divides opinion, as its flavor is distinctive.
What matters
Be sure to use genuine Old Tom Gin, not just any bottle off the shelf. A very dry gin suddenly makes the ten milliliters of cherry liqueur taste sweeter, since it lacks a soft counterpart. Measure the maraschino carefully, as its flavor is intense. Also, fill the glass with fresh ice before straining. The ice from the shaker is already half-melted.
The Casino is old. Already by 1909 it appeared in a printed recipe, and in exactly this form: Old Tom Gin, Maraschino, lemon and orange bitters. Later books carried it forward and made it better known. Where the name comes from remains unclear to this day. What stands out most is the ratio of ingredients. Lemon and liqueur are small additions to the gin, nothing more. As a result, what ends up in the glass is a short, clear gin drink, not a long fruit cocktail.
In the same direction
Gin, honey and citrus: in the Bee's Knees, honey syrup does most of the sweetening; the orange juice also brings natural sugar along. This version adds orange juice alongside lemon, tasting softer and fruitier as a result.
Zum RezeptA Gin Sour over crushed ice, finished with blackberry liqueur poured on top. The Bramble tastes fresh and tart, with the dark fruit slowly sinking through the drink as you sip.
Zum RezeptA pink gin sour made with raspberry syrup and lemon. A few drops of egg white soften the surface without adding any noticeable flavour of their own. The result is fruity and fresh, without the gin getting lost.
Zum Rezept