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Improved Holland Gin Cocktail

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (22)
Improved Holland Gin Cocktail image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
2 fl oz Oude genever
1⁄24 fl oz Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
1⁄24 fl oz Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix
1⁄24 fl oz La Fée Parisienne absinthe
2 dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters

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 lemon zest twist.

Method

  1. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  2. STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

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

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Improved Holland Gin Cocktail contains 108 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.5 standard drinks
  • 32.69% alc./vol. (65.39° proof)
  • 21.1 grams of pure alcohol

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

History

The classic Holland House "improved" due to the use of genever.

Review

Salmon-pink with subtle juniper, rounded by maraschino liqueur, aromatic bitters and absinthe. (I should perhaps add that 1.25ml or 1/24oz is roughly equal to 4 dashes.)

Variations/similar cocktails

With orange curaçao in place of marachino liqueur.
Improved Brandy Cocktail
Improved Whiskey Cocktail
Improved Holland Cocktail

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$3.12 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 12.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


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* 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.

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Comments & Discussion

Herbert Brant
Very unusual —and delightfully rich. The blend of flavors has an amazing complexity that suits me very well. Strong, certainly, but I made it on the rocks, and that actually worked to dilute the mixture into something glorious.
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Perfect. Taste of the Genever is forefront. Slight hint of the absinthe. Strong and not for the meek. Wonderful to sip instead of a Martini.
score: 1
Calvin Grant Premium Member
Wonderful drink. Really brought out the malty flavors in the genever.
score: 1
Tuber Magnatum Premium Member
So I made this as per the above recipe. While I enjoyed this, I wonder if I might have preferred the ratios published in Difford's 15th edition, and in particular if as in that recipe, 1/2 oz water might have tamed the cocktail slightly. Will try that version next and report back!
score: 1
Mark Shah
Does anyone know with any kind of authority what a dash actually is? In this recipe is saying 4 dashes is 1.25ml (0.3ml per dash) but on the website I've linked below it says it's just under 1ml per dash and 1ml was also the general consensus on a cocktail Facebook group I'm a member of.

https://www.thekitchn.com/when-it-comes-to-cocktails-whats-in-a-dash-behind-the-bar-218109
score: 1
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
In the "How to make above" I've added a link to a page explaining measuring and the volume of drops and dashes.
score: 0

View 5 comments and discussion

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Difford’s Shop logo
$3.12 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 12.5 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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