Recipes

Casino

An elegant and spirit-forward classic from the early 20th century, the Casino is a crisp, complex gin sour closely related to the Aviation. It is traditionally made with Old Tom Gin and gets its unique character from Maraschino liqueur and orange bitters.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Old Tom Gin
  • ¼ oz Maraschino Liqueur
  • ¼ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 2 dashes Orange Bitters
  • Garnish: Lemon Twist & a Cherry

Instructions

  1. Chill Your Glass: Place a coupe or martini glass in the freezer to get it properly chilled.
  2. Combine Ingredients: Add the Old Tom Gin, Maraschino liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and orange bitters to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  3. Shake Well: Shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is ice-cold.
  4. Strain and Serve: Strain the mixture into your chilled coupe glass.
  5. Garnish: Garnish with a lemon twist and a high-quality maraschino cherry.

Pro Tips for Perfection

Old Tom Gin is Key: Unlike many gin classics that use London Dry, the Casino is traditionally made with Old Tom Gin. This style of gin is slightly sweeter and has a rounder, softer botanical profile, which is essential for the cocktail's intended balance.

A Cousin to the Aviation: The Casino shares three of its four ingredients with the Aviation (gin, Maraschino, lemon). The key difference is the Casino's use of orange bitters instead of crème de violette, which gives it a brighter, more citrus-forward profile rather than a floral one.

← Back to All Recipes