Al’s Manhattan Challenge

I’m challenging you all to come up with your own house Manhattan; or a new favorite Manhattan; or your fall 2021 Manhattan! Whatever you’re seeking, I hope these guidelines help you find it. I gave myself but a few minutes to come up with a new recipe using these parameters when I was shooting our videos for the month. I ended up with a drink I adore: an equal parts Manhattan with blended Scotch (Famous Grouse) and Punt e Mes plus a dash of orange bitters, served in a frozen, absinthe-rinsed glass, topped with a splash of Champagne and an expressed and discarded orange peel, and garnished with a Luxardo cherry. You can really go anywhere with this challenge. Have fun!

THE RULES

• Your mixture should be 3 - 3½ oz. (before stirring)

• Any of the components can be split in two (i.e. split the spirit or vermouth, 1 dash each of two different bitters, etc...)

• As ever, stir for 20 seconds before straining into your glass.

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THE VARIABLES

• Ratio of spirit to wine

• Aged spirit ─ rye, bourbon, apple brandy, Cognac, aged rum, Scotch, Irish whiskey

• Fortified wine ─ sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, quinquina, sherry, etc.; or amaro, for a modern twist

• A small measure of liqueur, syrup, or both (look at this month’s recipes for guidance on amounts)

• Type(s) of bitter

• Garnish ─ citrus twists, cherries, etc.

• Rinse or spritz for the glass ─ absinthe, pastis, etc.

• Presentation ─ up or on the rocks

• Glassware ─ stemmed, rocks, frozen, etc.

• Optional splash (~1 oz.) of fizz ─ sparkling wine, club soda, dry cider, etc.