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Improved Gin

Nightcap/sipping · Spirit-forward

4.2 10 ratings

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Ingredients

1 swath Lemon peel
1 2/3 oz Gin
1/6 oz Gomme syrup
1/12 oz Maraschino liqueur
2 dash Boker's style bitters
1 dash Absinthe

How to make

Serve in a nick & nora glass

Prepare

  1. 1 Select and pre-chill a NICK & NORA GLASS.
  2. 2 Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist.

Method

  1. 3 EXPRESS oils from lemon zest twist into shaker and discard.
  2. 4 Add other ingredients and SHAKE with ice.

Garnish

  1. 5 FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  2. 6 EXPRESS lemon zest twist over surface of the cocktail, rub lemon zest oils on rim, and discard.

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History

Complex and spirit-forward. A delightful cocktail for sipping and contemplation. Stirring is an alternative to shaking; expressing lemon oils enhances aroma and clears the bubble slick from shaking.

The Gin Cocktail is first documented in Jerry "The Professor" Thomas' 1862 publication, The Bar-Tender's Guide & Bon Vivant's Companion. An "Improved" iteration of this drink was introduced in his 1876 edition of The Bar-Tender's Guide. This latter work also features "Improved" renditions of the Brandy Cocktail and Whiskey Cocktail, all of which align with what are now recognized as Old Fashioned cocktails. Jerry Thomas himself stated that these had been "improved by moistening the edge of the cocktail glass with a piece of lemon." A characteristic of these "improved" American cocktails from that era was the incorporation of European components, specifically maraschino liqueur and/or absinthe. 111. Gin Cocktail. (Use small bar glass.) 3 or 4 dashes of gum syrup. 2 do. Bitters (Bogart's). 1 wine-glass of gin. 1 or 2 dashes of Curaçao. 1 small piece lemon peel; fill one-third full of fine ice shake well, and strain in a glass. 243. Improved Gin Cocktail. Use the same method and ingredients as in No. 241 substituting gin for the brandy.