Head to head
Brandy Crusta and Casino side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.
The difference, by the numbers
Both have Maraschino liqueur and lemon juice. Only the Brandy Crusta has Cognac, orange curaçao, simple syrup and Angostura bitters; only the Casino has Old Tom gin and orange bitters. In parts, a Brandy Crusta is 3½ brandy, ½ Maraschino, ¼ Curaçao, 1 lemon and ¼ syrup; a Casino is 4 gin, 1 Maraschino and 1 lemon. By volume, the Brandy Crusta is 62% spirit, 17% citrus, 15% liqueur and 6% syrup and sugar; the Casino is 67% spirit, 17% liqueur and 16% citrus. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.
The Brandy Crusta is the stronger drink in the glass (20.7% ABV against 18.4%) and holds more alcohol (1.47 standard drinks against 1.12). The Brandy Crusta has more calories (about 171 against 122) and more sugar (6.3 g against 2.8 g). The Brandy Crusta is stirred and served in a coupe; the Casino is shaken and served in a rocks glass.
Sours · Brandy
The ratio · 3½ : ½ : ¼ : 1 : ¼
Highlighted: not in the Casino.
Sours · Gin
The ratio · 4 : 1 : 1
Highlighted: not in the Brandy Crusta.
Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.
Brandy Crusta vs.
Casino vs.