Casino recipe
A crisp pre-Prohibition gin sour with maraschino, citrus, and just enough orange bitters to keep it sharp.
Method: Shake ·
Glass: Coupe glass ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz London Dry Gin
- 1/4 oz Maraschino Liqueur
- 1/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 2 dashes Orange Bitters
How to make a Casino
- Chill a coupe glass.
- Add gin, maraschino, lemon juice, and orange bitters to a shaker with ice.
- Shake briskly for 12 seconds.
- Fine strain into the chilled coupe.
- Garnish with one good brandied cherry.
Garnish
Brandied cherry.
Pro tip
Maraschino is potent and dry, not syrupy. Keep the pour small or it will bury the gin and lemon.
History of the Casino
The Casino appeared in Hugo Ensslin's 1916 Recipes for Mixed Drinks. It belongs to the elegant, tightly built gin sours that defined serious American bars before Prohibition.
Flavour profile
Citrus, Botanical, Cherry, Dry
Variations
- Casino Royale — Top the finished drink with a small splash of dry sparkling wine.
- Casino 75 — Use 1 1/2 oz gin and top with sparkling wine for a longer drink.
- Cherry Casino — Add 1/4 oz cherry eau de vie for a more fruit-forward version.
Practise making the Casino in the free Virtual Bar game.