Casino: Old Tom Gin, Maraschino & Lemon Cocktail

The Casino cocktail is an old-school gin drink built from Old Tom gin, Maraschino liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and orange bitters. The combination lands somewhere between a sour and an aromatic spirit-forward cocktail, with citrus sharpening the Old Tom gin while Maraschino adds a subtle cherry-almond note rather than outright sweetness.

An Early 20th-Century Gin Classic

Published versions of the Casino date back at least to Jacob A. Didier's The Reminder in 1909, followed by Hugo R. Ensslin's 1916 recipe and a similar version in Harry Craddock's 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book. The proportions and preparation have shifted over time, while today's IBA version uses a more generous measure of lemon and Maraschino and calls for shaking.

What You'll Need

Ingredients

• Old Tom Gin - Provides the botanical foundation and the softer, slightly sweeter gin profile specified by the IBA.
• Maraschino Luxardo - Contributes concentrated cherry, almond-like, and herbal notes without behaving like a conventional sweet cherry syrup.
• Fresh Lemon Juice - Supplies the acidity that gives the Casino its lift and keeps the liqueur in balance.
• Orange Bitters - Add citrus aroma and a dry, spiced bitterness that ties the Old Tom gin and lemon together.
• Cherry and Lemon Peel - Complete the current IBA presentation with complementary fruit and citrus aromas.

For equipment, you'll need a cocktail shaker, strainer, jigger, rocks glass, and ice.

Why the Casino Deserves Another Look

The Casino packs several distinct flavors into a relatively small drink. Old Tom gin stays firmly in charge, but the combination of tart lemon, fragrant bitters, and restrained Maraschino gives it more dimension than a standard gin sour. The result is dry enough for classic-cocktail drinkers while still having enough fruit character to remain approachable.

Substitutions & Variations

• Use Old Tom gin: It is the style specified by the IBA and gives the Casino its intended softer gin profile. A London dry gin can work as a variation, but expect a crisper, drier result.
• Try another maraschino liqueur: Another quality maraschino liqueur can substitute for Luxardo, although sweetness and cherry intensity vary between brands.
• Explore the earlier style: Reduce the lemon and Maraschino and use a more gin-forward ratio for a drink closer to historical versions. Earlier recipes also commonly stirred the drink rather than following today's IBA shake-and-serve-over-ice method.
• Try an Aviation: The Aviation is a natural next step if you like the Casino's gin, Maraschino, and citrus combination, while adding crème de violette for a more floral profile.

Helpful Tips

• Use fresh lemon juice because small changes in acidity are easy to notice in a compact four-ingredient cocktail.
• Measure the Maraschino carefully rather than free-pouring it, since too much can quickly dominate the Old Tom gin.
• Shake until thoroughly chilled, then strain over fresh ice rather than reusing shaker ice.
• Express the lemon peel over the drink before adding it.
• Use a good cocktail cherry rather than an aggressively sweet neon-red garnish.