As Time Goes By

A nostalgic, citrus-forward cocktail inspired by the iconic song from Casablanca, featuring Cointreau, white rum, grapefruit and lime juices, and a touch of Kirsch and agave to evoke the bittersweet romance and timeless elegance of the film.  (Recipe Below)

“As Time Goes By” is the name of this cocktail, and the song that went viral after the movie premiered and helped bring popularity to the war time movie. In the movie, the song brings back a flood of memories for both Rick and his former lover Ilsa.  A very popular spirit in 1941 Casablanca, made apparent in the movie is Cointreau, so we wanted to create a cocktail that really features the flavors of Cointreau.  The slightly bitter, but mostly sweet citrus liqueur has a flavor close to the familiar Hemmingway Daiquiri.  You will notice that this cocktail is very similar with using Grapefruit and Lime juices for the citrus and slightly bitter and floral flavors.  The base spirit is White Rum which gave the cocktail the ABV we were looking for without flavors that would detract from the Cointreau itself.  The main differences between As Time Goes By and the Hemmingway, is that we use a Kirsh Liqueur (White Cherry) which is mild and sweet, unlike the Maraschino Liqueur, which is more bitter.  We also sweetened this cocktail with agave again, to add sweetness and bring out the floral notes of the Cointreau and Grapefruit. Take a drink and fade into the song, Sam: "You must remember this- A kiss is still a kiss; a sigh is just a sigh.  The fundamental things apply, as time goes by.  

As Time Goes By

1 oz (30mL) White Rum 

.75 oz (22.5mL) Cointreau 

.5 oz (15mL) Kirsch Liqueur 

.5 oz (15mL) Lime Juice 

.5 oz (15mL) Grapefruit Juice 

.25 oz (7.5mL) Agave 

Orange 

Chill a Nick and Nora glass.  In a shaker combine 1.5 oz White Rum, .75 oz of Cointreau, .75 oz Mount Rigi, .75 oz Lime Juice, and .5 oz Grapefruit Juice, .25 oz Agave.  Fill shaker with ice, cover and shake for 30 seconds until thoroughly chilled, double strain into the chilled coupe, garnish with a Orange peel rosette.  

Cocktail recipes and instruction videos are created by Boozy Movies, LLC

  • Bacardi Superior White Rum

    Country: Puerto Rico 

    ABV:  80 proof/40% 

    Brand: Bacardi Limited 

    Spirits Type: Rum 

    Taste: Vanilla, Apricot, Coconut 

    Price Category: $ 

    Designed for mixing, this rum has lightly floral and citrus notes.  Bacardi rum is made from molasses a sugar cane biproduct, fermented with a proprietary yeast blend and aged in American Whiskey and Bourbon barrels.   

  • Cointreau Triple Sec

    Country: France 

    ABV:  80 proof/40%  

    Brand: Cointreau 

    Spirits Type: Liqueurs/Cordials/Schnapps 

    Taste: Bittersweet orange, nut and cinnamon 

    Price Category: $ 

    An colorless orange liqueur made with bitter orange peels and alcohol from sugar beets.  Produced in France with the recipe still a family secret. 

  • Mount Rigi Kirsch Liqueur

    Country: Switzerland 

    ABV:  40 proof/20% 

    Brand: Mount Rigi 

    Spirits Type: Amaro, Aperitif & Vermouth 

    Taste: Sweet cherries with a dash of citrus 

    Price Category: $ 

    Mellow and sweet, this liqueur tastes of sweet cherries and light citrus.  This kirsch liqueur is made from cherries that have been mashed and fermented then distilled.  Botanicals and herbs are added to steep in the distillate then filtered and water from the Swiss Alps and sweeteners are added to balance the flavor and alcohol content.  

  • Lime Juice

    5-6% acidity 

    Less acidic than lime juice, lemon juice will add enough acidity to brighten flavors without overpowering when balanced with sweetness.   Usually our preference when needing acid to emulsify with egg white,  aquafaba or cream.

  • Grapefruit Juice

    4-5% acidity 

    Less acidic but a lot more bitter than lemon juice.  Freshly pressed grapefruit juice can add floral, pepper, and bitter notes unlike other citrus fruits available in the market. 

  • Agave

    A neutrally flavored and easy to grab sweetener.  Golden, Amber and Dark Agave Nectars are available in the supermarket with darker versions being predictably more toasty or caramel in flavor.  

Casablanca: A Timeless Tale of Love, Sacrifice and Wartime Intrigue- Inspiring Two Cocktails 

Set in 1941 Casablanca, Casablanca follows nightclub owner Rick, played by Humphrey Bogart, who is unexpectedly reunited with his former lover Ilsa, leading to a complex love triangle amidst wartime tension. The first cocktail, "As Time Goes By" is inspired by the iconic song in the film and features Cointreau, white rum, grapefruit, lime, and Kirsch liqueur, creating a sweet, citrusy drink that evokes the past and the song's emotional weight. The second cocktail, "A Beautiful Friendship" blends gin, elderflower liqueur, peach schnapps, hot honey, Peychaud’s bitters, and Amaro Montenegro, reflecting the cultural melting pot of Casablanca with its herbal, floral, and spicy flavors. The cocktails mirror the characters’ internal struggles, much like Ilsa’s emotional conflict between Rick and her husband. In the end, Casablanca offers a story of tough decisions, love, and loss, paired perfectly with two thematic cocktails to sip as the drama unfolds. 

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If you like this movie, you’ll love:
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A Beautiful Friendship - Casablanca