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Casino

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (259)
Casino image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 1/2 fl oz Hayman's Old Tom Gin
2/3 fl oz Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
1/3 fl oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1/3 fl oz Orange juice (freshly squeezed)
1 dash Orange Bitters by Angostura

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

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How to make

Glassware

Serve in a Nick & Nora glass

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a NICK & NORA GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of Luxardo Maraschino Cherry.

Method

  1. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  2. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. Garnish with maraschino cherry.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Casino contains 147 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.4 standard drinks
  • 21.65% alc./vol. (43.3° proof)
  • 19.8 grams of pure alcohol

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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History

Until March 2014, when Henry Duke, a fellow Discerning Drinker, made me aware that the Casino first appeared in Jacob A. Didier's 1909 book The Reminder: Bartender' Vest Pocket Guide [thanks, Henry], I and most others credited Hugo R. Ensslin for debuting the recipe in his 1916 Recipes For Mixed Drinks, written when he was head bartender at New York City's Hotel Wallick which stood at the corner of Broadway and 43rd Street. It would appear that Ensslin copied Didier as the recipes in both books are almost identical.

CASINO COCKTAIL.
Use a mixing glass.
2 dashes of Maraschino.
2 dashes of orange bitters.
2 dashes of lemon juice.
1 drink of Tom gin.
½ glass of cracked ice.
Sir, strain, and serve with cherry.

Jacob A. Didier, The Reminder, 1909


Casino Cocktail
2 dashes Maraschino
2 dashes Orange Bitters
2 dashes Lemon juice
1 drink of Old Tom
Stir well in a mixing glass with cracked ice, strain and serve with a cherry.

Hugo R. Ensslin, 1916


If you are seeking a Casino more in keeping with Didler's/Ensslin's recipe, try 45 old tom gin, 5ml maraschino liqueur, 2.5ml lemon juice, and 2 dashes orange bitters, stirred with ice and strained into a chilled Nick & Nora glass.

Ensslin's 1916 book is best known for being the first print reference to the Aviation cocktail and his Casino is essentially a stirred Aviation without crème de violette but a lot more lemon juice.

Harry Craddock repeats Ensslin's Casino Cocktail, almost verbatim, in his 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book.

Then, in 1948, David Embury published his version of the Casino with orange juice in place of orange bitters. Tellingly, he instructs to "Follow directions for mixing the Aviation."

CASINO
1 part Maraschino
1 part Lemon juice
1 part Orange juice
8 parts Gin
Follow directions for mixing the Aviation.
Here again, it should be noted that at least one recipe book lists, under the name of "Casino" a quite different cocktail made with gin, whisky, Cointreau, slivovitz, and Italian vermouth. Horror of horrors!

David, Embury, 1948


Embury's recipe translates as 40ml gin, 5ml maraschino liqueur, 5ml lemon juice and 5ml orange juice.

Review

This recipe is a broad interpretation of Jacob A. Didier's 1909 original and the Casino recipes that follow in Hugo R. Ensslin's 1916 book and other subsequent tomes. Although, as Didier merely specifies "dashes" of lemon juice, his recipe may not be so far removed from mine.

Variations/similar cocktails

Aviation
Blue Moon

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Makes a minimum of 16.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


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Comments & Discussion

Sally Morgan Premium Member
I've only just discovered that proper maraschino cherries are absolutely delicious so I'm always fond of a cocktail that has one as a garnish. I long ago realised that Mr Difford's tweaks are the best version of anything (in my head he appears, Jeeves-like at my elbow and mutters 'I've adjusted this to suit your superior tastes ma'am) and I do very much like this version, retro but not sweet
score: 3
Loz Horner
Yes a little too maraschino-y for me. Will reduce next time. Good though.
score: 1
Tuber Magnatum Premium Member
Interesting range of comments with respect to Difford's vs "original" version which if I interpret comments correctly, differ over primarily how much Maraschino / sweetness one prefers in this drink. I always start with the Difford's recipe and did so in this instance notwithstanding usually avoiding cocktails with orange juice. To my surprise, presumably because of the lemon, I found this to be a lovely and well balanced cocktail. Not too sweet, and for me more importantly, not too orange forward. I will compare to the "original" recipe at some point.
score: 2
Matheus Martins
Tastes like money
score: 5
G. M. Genovese Premium Member
The Didier/Ensslin recipe is more to my liking and reminds me much of my ideal Martini profile (orange bitters, lemon), just with a bit of added sweetness from the maraschino (and flavor) and the Old Tom (Hayman's). The orange juice and larger measure of maraschino in the main recipe here just seems to dilute the gin botanicals and intensify the maraschino beyond what I prefer. To each their own.
score: 3
Henry Duke
I've managed to find an earlier instance of the casino cocktail; on page 5 of "The Reminder" by Jacob A. Didier (3rd Edition) from 1909. It seems Ensslin copied Didier (the wording is almost the exact same).
score: 3
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
A brilliant find. I've added a quote from Didlier's book and amended much else above. Many thanks, Henry!
score: 4
Avery Garnett
3/4oz maraschino sounded like it would taste of nothing but maraschino so I went for 1/2oz and an additional dash of grapefruit bitters. Very nice, very soft, and even at 1/2oz the maraschino is starting to overwhelm. 8.5/10, HOF Challenge 7/291
score: 4
István GT
I agree, it's all maraschino if I follow the original recipe, next time I will reduce its amount for sure
score: 1
George Boyd
Wonderful tangy cleansing drink
score: 1
Bill Woodruff
A step up from an Aviation. Nice w/o the simple syrup.
score: 3
Donna Inch Premium Member
This is definitely a keeper. Used Tobermory gin, delicious - nicely tart lemon.
score: 1

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Difford’s Shop logo
$3.76 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 16.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

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