Mix Me a Manhattan Darling...
by Brook Fischer
If you’re going to make New York cheesecake, you’ve got to have a New York cocktail to go along with it. Ever heard of a little drink called the Manhattan? We can thank New York socialite Jennie Jerome for its inception. 1874 was a big year for the 20-year-old Ms. Jerome. She married Lord Randolph Churchill at the British embassy in Paris and gave birth to a son, Winston, just seven months after the wedding. That same year, she held a reception for New York Governor Samuel J. Tilden at her father’s mansion on the corner of 26th and Madison (aka the Manhattan Club) and asked the bartender to create a special drink in honor of the fête. The rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters concoction was a hit.
Some drink historians insist this combination was created elsewhere before Jerome’s party, but I say just shut up and enjoy your Manhattan. The original recipe calls for rye, sweet vermouth, a dash of bitters and a cherry that has been soaked in brandy or eau de vie. Times have changed, and in most bars, rye is often substituted with bourbon and a simple maraschino cherry has replaced the booze-soaked cherry. I happen to think the bright red cherry contrasts beautifully with the amber liquor.
For a smooth Manhattan, mix a jigger of bourbon, 1/3 jigger of sweet vermouth, a splash of bitters and three ice cubes in a mixing glass. Stir slowly. Place one cherry in a cocktail glass and strain the mixture over it. Drink one of these and you’ll be hungry for New York cheesecake in no time.
Some drink historians insist this combination was created elsewhere before Jerome’s party, but I say just shut up and enjoy your Manhattan. The original recipe calls for rye, sweet vermouth, a dash of bitters and a cherry that has been soaked in brandy or eau de vie. Times have changed, and in most bars, rye is often substituted with bourbon and a simple maraschino cherry has replaced the booze-soaked cherry. I happen to think the bright red cherry contrasts beautifully with the amber liquor.
For a smooth Manhattan, mix a jigger of bourbon, 1/3 jigger of sweet vermouth, a splash of bitters and three ice cubes in a mixing glass. Stir slowly. Place one cherry in a cocktail glass and strain the mixture over it. Drink one of these and you’ll be hungry for New York cheesecake in no time.
