Hosting some pals for a game of Poker? Nothing says ‘here to win’ like a round of Casinos at the start of the game. Here are some matched cocktails to some classic games, and whether you’ve got a gang of professional gamblers popping around for some smack talk, or you’re enjoying some blissful alone time with some Candy Crush - we’ve got some suggestions to help you unwind this holiday break.

Casino For Poker

Technically this is an improved gin cocktail with a touch of lemon juice - it’s a cousin of the Aviation - and dates back to around the same time - about 100 years ago.

It’s more gin-forward that a classic sour, meaning it’s got some pep and brace. And when you’re losing the house to your best mate in poker your options run thin - but we recommend distracting them with another serve of a pitcher of Casino. It’s a damn good drink for a damn good game.

Bijou For Candy Crush

Drink alone and play alone. It’s a good life. This drink is a serious big drink, for a serious, tiny game. Bijou is French for jewel - named for the show-stopping colour. It seems implausible on paper, the combination of Chartreuse, sweet vermouth and gin. It’s a lot of flavour in a glass, not for the faint of heart, but then, neither is Candy Crush.

Tuxedo For Cluedo

Dress your drink up and dress yourself up so you can feign shock as it’s once again Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick. This is a big drink. We’ve got a Martini style boozy big slug of gin, punctured with a touch of absinthe and orange bitters. However this best has deformed and reformed over the years. You might frequently hear of Tuxedos which make no mention of absinthe but instead some orange bitters and some fino vermouth. This is a very serious drink, for a very silly game.