Tuesday 29 December 2020
A pre-Prohibition classic, the Manhattan inspires countless riffs, yet the simplicity of the original remains a show stealer. First published in 1882 in Harry Johnson’s Bartenders Manual, its origins are murky. One apocryphal story says it was created for Lady Randolph Churchill (mother of Winston) at the Manhattan Club in 1874. It became popular as one of the first drinks to use sweet vermouth a new ingredient at the time. Originally made with rye, bourbon is common today.
Ingredients
1 oz (30 ml) sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Note:
A higher-proof whiskey is recommended for best results. If using a more robust sweet vermouth, such as Punt e Mas, increase the amount of whiskey by about 1/4 oz (7 ml).
Tuesday 22 December 2020
“A stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters.” This is both the earliest written reference to the word “cocktail” in 1806, and a definition of the Old Fashioned. In fact, “old-fashioned” used to be an adjective describing an entire class of cocktails that followed this simple combination with all sorts of spirits including genever and brandy. Theories as to the origins of the Old Fashioned abound, but according to cocktail writer Robert Simonson, author of a book on the topic, it most likely originated near Chicago, close to America’s bourbon country.
Ingredients
1/4 oz (7 ml) Rich Simple Syrup (p. 24)