Whiskey Cocktails: Rye Whiskey

Manhattan

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Ingredients

2.25 oz. Old Overholt Rye Whiskey

1 oz. Cinzano Sweet Vermouth

4 dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters

Garnish

Brandied cherry

Preparation

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and add ice. Stir 25-35 times. Strain into a coupe or stemmed cocktail glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

Cocktail Story

Though its exact origins are difficult to pinpoint considering the drink has been on the bar circuit since the 1860s, the Manhattan is, without a doubt, a truly New York invention. A common theory credits the Manhattan Club with the invention of the classic cocktail in honor of an 1874 party hosted by Lady Churchill, however Lady Churchill was actually in England at the time, giving birth to her soon-to-be-famous son Winston. Then there are those who believe the city itself inspired the drink. The recipe in William Schmidt’s 1892 book, The Flowing Bowl, including gum and absinthe, has more in common with a rustic Improved Whiskey, but it also set the stage for the evolution into a simple yet sophisticated drink. During Prohibition, when rye all but disappeared, Canadian whiskey became a common and palatable substitute for American ryes. Bourbon soon stole the spotlight at the center of the drink, however, rye has enjoyed a comeback in recent years.