makesimple syrup

Old Fashioned family

Improved Whiskey Cocktail

Made with gum syrup (gomme syrup) · Jerry Thomas, United States, 1876

  • coupe
  • none (served up)
  • stir
Jump to the recipeMake the syrup

Improved Whiskey Cocktail

  • 2 oz60 ml rye whiskey (or bourbon)
  • 1 barspoon1 barspoon gum syrup
  • 2 dashes2 dashes maraschino liqueur (about 1/2 tsp)
  • 2 dashes2 dashes Angostura bitters (or Boker's)
  • 1 dash1 dash absinthe
  1. Add the whiskey, gum syrup, maraschino, bitters and absinthe to a mixing glass.
  2. Fill with ice and stir until well chilled.
  3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, or over one large cube in a rocks glass.
  4. Twist a strip of lemon peel over the top and drop it in.

Garnish: lemon twist

The syrup

In this recipe

Gum Syrup (Gomme Syrup)⅙ oz5 ml

Gum syrup (gomme) is rich sugar syrup thickened with gum arabic, which gives cocktails a silky texture.

As printed: Thomas 1876: 3 dashes gum syrup; Wondrich (Imbibe!): 1–2 barspoons gum or simple syrup

Or use

Rich Simple Syrup (2:1)⅙ oz5 ml

Rich simple syrup is two parts sugar to one part water by weight: 400 g sugar dissolved in 200 ml hot water.

Same 2:1 strength as our gum syrup, without the silky texture.

As printed: 1–2 barspoons gum or simple syrup

Or use

Classic Simple Syrup¼ oz7 ml

Simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water, heated just until the sugar dissolves.

1:1 is less sweet: use 1/4 oz (about 1 1/2 tsp).

As printed: Punch: a sugar cube or heaping 1/4 oz simple syrup; Tuxedo No. 2: 1/4 oz simple; Kindred: 1 tsp simple

Where it comes from

In 1876 Jerry Thomas's bar guide added 'improved' cocktails, which dressed up the basic spirit, sugar and bitters drink with maraschino and absinthe. Drinks historian David Wondrich revived the whiskey version in his Esquire columns and his book Imbibe!

Source: Jerry Thomas' Bar-Tender's Guide (How to Mix Drinks) by Jerry Thomas (1876).

Checked against: Cocktail Kingdom Library – Improved Cocktail (Imbibe! adaptation) · Kindred Cocktails – Improved Whiskey Cocktail · Punch – Improved Whiskey Cocktail · Tuxedo No.2 – Improved Whiskey Cocktail · Imbibe Magazine – History Lesson: Improved Cocktails · Jerry Thomas, The Bar-Tender's Guide (1887) – archive.org scan

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