Improved Holland Gin Cocktail

The Improved Holland Gin Cocktail is a historic, spirit-forward sipper from the golden age of bartending. It takes the simple formula of a "Holland Gin Cocktail" and enhances it using the "improved" template, which involves adding small amounts of maraschino liqueur and absinthe. This creates a drink with remarkable depth, balancing the malty Genever with herbal sweetness, a hint of anise, and aromatic spice. It's a perfect choice for those who appreciate cocktails like the Martinez or Manhattan and wish to explore their historical relatives.
Improved Holland Gin Cocktail

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Improved Holland Gin Cocktail is a classic cocktail from the late 19th century. It falls into the category of stirred, spirit-forward drinks, representing an evolution from simpler, earlier recipes.

Serving

Served 'straight up' in a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass, this is a potent, aromatic cocktail. The absinthe rinse in the glass provides a lingering herbal aroma with every sip.
Serving size
Approximately 3.5 oz / 105 ml
Alcohol content
Approximately 28-32% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled and rinsed with absinthe

Backstory

This cocktail is a direct descendant of the "Improved Cocktail" style popularized in the latter half of the 19th century, as documented in seminal bartending guides like Jerry Thomas's "How to Mix Drinks." The "improvement" was a common practice of adding a small amount of complex modifiers like maraschino liqueur, absinthe, or curaçao to a base recipe. This specific version applies that principle to Genever, or "Holland Gin," the juniper-flavored spirit from the Netherlands and Belgium.
Origin
United States, late 19th century. This style of cocktail emerged as bartenders began experimenting with new liqueurs and modifiers to create more intricate flavor profiles for their patrons.

Improved Holland Gin Cocktail

This cocktail is primarily known by its full name, "Improved Holland Gin Cocktail". It is sometimes referred to as the "Improved Genever Cocktail," which is more descriptive of its base spirit, as "Holland Gin" is an old term for Genever.
Original name
Improved Holland Gin Cocktail
Alternative name
Improved Genever Cocktail

Characteristics overview

This drink boasts a complex herbal and malty aroma with a silky texture. The flavor is spirit-forward and slightly sweet, leading to a long, warming finish with notes of anise and spice.
Flavor
Spirit-forward, malty, herbal, complex, slightly sweet, hint of anise, citrusy
Aroma
Anise, juniper, lemon oils, sweet herbs, malt
Taste balance
Slightly sweet, bitter
Aftertaste
Long, complex, warming, herbal
Fizziness
Still, none
Color appearance
Clear, light amber, golden hue
Texture
Silky, smooth, rich
Seasonality
Warming, year-round, suitable for cooler evenings

Flavor intensity & Experience

The cocktail is moderately strong in alcohol with a noticeable but balanced sweetness and bitterness. It is not fruity, creamy, or carbonated, focusing instead on complex herbal and spirit notes.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This cocktail requires a specific set of classic ingredients: a bottle of Genever, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, absinthe, and Angostura bitters.
  • Genever2 oz / 60 ml
    Often called Holland Gin. If unavailable, a malty Old Tom Gin can be a substitute.
  • Sweet Vermouth0.5 oz / 15 ml
    A good quality Italian-style sweet vermouth is recommended.
  • Maraschino Liqueur1 bar spoon (approx. 0.17 oz / 5 ml)
    Use a high-quality brand like Luxardo Maraschino. Do not substitute with cherry brandy.
  • Absinthe1 rinse
    Used to rinse the serving glass for aroma. A pastis like Pernod can be used as a substitute.
  • Angostura Bitters2 dashes
    Essential for balancing the sweetness and adding aromatic spice.

Ice type

  • Cubed ice for stirring

Mixing equipments

You will need standard bar tools for a stirred cocktail, including a mixing glass, a bar spoon, and a strainer. A jigger is necessary for accurate measurements.
  • Mixing glass for stirring the cocktail
  • Bar spoon for stirring
  • Julep or Hawthorne strainer for straining
  • Jigger or measuring tool

Instructions

The preparation involves rinsing a chilled glass with absinthe, stirring the main ingredients with ice until cold, and straining into the glass. The final touch is expressing a lemon peel over the drink for aroma.
1. Chill your coupe or Nick & Nora glass by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer.
2. Once chilled, discard the ice. Pour a small amount of absinthe into the glass, swirl to coat the inside, and discard the excess liquid.
3. In a mixing glass, combine the Genever, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and Angostura bitters.
4. Fill the mixing glass three-quarters full with cubed ice.
5. Stir with a bar spoon briskly for about 20-30 seconds, until the outside of the mixing glass is well-chilled and frosted.
6. Using a strainer, pour the contents of the mixing glass into your prepared, absinthe-rinsed coupe.
7. Take a fresh lemon peel, hold it over the drink with the skin-side down, and squeeze it to express the citrus oils over the surface.
8. Drop the lemon peel into the glass as a garnish and serve immediately.

Garnishing

The only garnish needed is a fresh lemon peel. Expressing the citrus oils over the finished drink is crucial for adding a bright, aromatic top note.
  • Lemon peel, expressed over the surface of the drink to release its oils, then dropped in or placed on the rim.

Dietary Information

This drink is not gluten-free as Genever is distilled from a grain mash. Its vegan status is uncertain, as some vermouths and bitters may use non-vegan fining agents in their production.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✕ Gluten-free
✕ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This is a spirit-forward drink, so most of its calories come from alcohol. It has a moderate sugar content, primarily from the sweet vermouth and maraschino liqueur.
Calories
Averagely 180-200 kcal / 753-837 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 6-8 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 6-8 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This is an excellent cocktail for a sophisticated aperitif or a relaxed cocktail hour. Its classic nature also makes it a great choice for a historical cocktail tasting or for impressing guests with a deep cut from cocktail history.
  • Aperitif
  • Cocktail Hour
  • Classic Cocktail Tasting
  • Sophisticated Gathering

Pairing suggestions

The cocktail's rich, slightly sweet, and herbal profile pairs wonderfully with salty and savory snacks. Consider serving it with a cheese and charcuterie board, high-quality olives, or roasted nuts to complement its complex flavors.
  • Salty nuts like Marcona almonds
  • Hard, aged cheeses like Gouda or cheddar
  • Charcuterie board
  • Olives

Improved Holland Gin Cocktail: A Taste of History

The Improved Holland Gin Cocktail is a journey back to the roots of classic mixology. It offers a complex, rewarding flavor profile for those who enjoy spirit-forward drinks. By combining malty Genever with the sweet, herbal notes of vermouth, maraschino, and absinthe, it achieves a beautiful balance that is both potent and elegant. Perfect as a sophisticated aperitif, it's a testament to the timeless art of the "improved" cocktail.

Similar cocktails

Martinez

A classic precursor to the Martini that also combines gin (typically Old Tom), sweet vermouth, and maraschino liqueur, but usually includes orange bitters instead of Angostura and no absinthe rinse.

Tuxedo No. 2 Cocktail

Features a similar combination of gin, dry vermouth (instead of sweet), maraschino liqueur, and an absinthe rinse.

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