Manhattens

Someone has found this blog searching for "Manhattens with alcohol." I asked Melanie, "what, pray tell, is a virgin Manhatten? A cherry in a martini glass?"

My great uncle Dinky (Americanization of Dinko, the Slavonian nickname for Dominic) was a great barkeep in his day. He gave me his recipe, although I have changed it based on other authorities and my own preference. Here is the family recipe for a Manhatten:

2 shots bourbon (or rye, preferably)
1 shot sweet red vermouth
2 dashes angostura bitters
a dollop of the syrup from Toschi or Fabbri candied sour cherries
1 cherry.

Put the liquid ingredients in a shaker with cracked ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass with the cherry.

For a dry Manhatten:

2 shots bourbon or rye
1 shot extra dry vermouth
2 dashes bitters
1 olive or twist

Same procedure as the sweet.

I am not drinking anything stronger than vermouth or campari during Lent (except on Sundays), so for me these will have to wait until Easter. Manhattens are a great pre-dinner cocktail.