The 5 Boroughs
Part 1
As a born and raised New Yorker I have always been very proud of New York’s place in the history of American cocktail culture. From its historically uber fancy hotels, the lore of its legendary bartenders, innumerable neighborhoods with a flavor all their own, and ability to get almost any product from almost anywhere in the world, New York simply has all the ingredients (pun intended) to be a great cocktail town.
That’s not to diss any other city anywhere…no, no, no! New York is neither better nor worse than any other city, just my home. A cocktail in New Orleans…pure bliss, Chicago…amazing, Martinis in Miami…yessir!, Portland or Seattle…PNW perfect, I could go on, but New York is the home of the Manhattan, The Bronx and the Brooklyn. Cocktails that each have their own unique place in history.
So here is my ode to the cocktails of New York. One cocktail for each of the Five Boroughs and a few variations you should give a whirl!
Today the Manhattan and the Bronx. Next article = Brooklyn Cocktail, The Queens Cocktail and the Staten Island Frappe.
The Manhattan
Recipe notes:
Legend has it, The Manhattan was created in 1874 by a bartender at the Manhattan Club for a party hosted by Jennie Jerome (Lady Randolph Winston, Winston Churchill’s American-born mother), in honor of New York Governor Samuel J. Tilden’s election. Two years later Tilden, a Democrat, won the popular vote for the United States presidency but after a challenge by the Republicans focused on three southern states (including Florida), a congressional committee was left to investigate and decide the outcome of the election. They voted along party lines and declared victory for Republican Rutherford Hayes. Perhaps it was the Manhattan that made Governor Tilden’s defeat a little more bearable.
The original Manhattan was most probably made with rye, which produces a smooth, mellow cocktail with a hint of spice, and with sweet vermouth and Angostura Bitters. Over time, multiple variations of The Manhattan have developed, with tweaks to both the whiskey, the bitters and the vermouth. Enjoying experimenting.
Whether or not you believe int the legend of Jennie Jerome’s part in the origin of the Manhattan, along with the Martini, the Old Fashioned, the Sazerac and others it is one of the foundational cocktails every bartender must learn…and get right. Most mixologists use the starting proportion of 2-parts whiskey, 1-part sweet vermouth and 2-3 dashes of bitters. I use 3 dashes of bitters and occasionally more as I like a well bittered Manhattan. Feel free to experiment and find your personal flavor profile.
Ingredients:
2 oz Rye or Bourbon Whiskey
1 oz Carpano Antica Formula or other sweet vermouth
3 dashes Angostura Bitters
GLASS: Coup Martini
GARNISH: flamed orange twist and brandied or maraschino cherry
Steps:
Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir at least 50 times, strain into glass and garnish.
The Dylan Manhattan
Recipe Notes:
Dylan Prime was an amazing modern steakhouse and craft cocktail bar in the Tribeca neighborhood of lower Manhattan. For 20 years, it existed on one of the coolest corners of the city and offered modern interpretations of steak house favorites and classic cocktails. It was owned by my brother John Mautone and was renowned for his signature citrusy take on the Manhattan. It uses one of my favorite, and simple, techniques called seasoning the glass, where you add a particular ingredient into the glass, swirl or rub it around then add the mixed cocktail. The result is a complex layering of flavors.
Ingredients:
2 oz Rye or Bourbon Whiskey
1 oz Carpano Antica Formula or other sweet vermouth
3 dashes Angostura Bitters
1 each large lemon twist, large lime twist and large orange twist
GLASS: Coup or Martini GARNISH: brandied or maraschino cherry
Steps:
In the glass place 2 dashes of the Angostura bitters, then take the three twists and tub them around the glass ensuring that you coat the entire glass. Discard the twists.
Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir at least 50 times, strain into glass and garnish.
Manahatta
Manhattan was named after the Lenape Native American Tribe’s term for their island home, Manahatta. This is my version of a clear Manhattan. Clear, unaged whiskeys are vibrant and flavorful but often have a sharp back bite. The dash of lavender syrup mellows out the overt alcoholic heat of the cocktail. You can substitute simple syrup or agave nectar for the lavender syrup.
Ingredients:
2 oz Corn Whiskey
1 oz Martini Bianco
2 Dashes Lavender Bitters
1 dash lavender syrup or simple syrup
Garnish: Pickled Baby Corn Glassware: martini glass
Steps:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir briskly at least 50 times. Strain into martini glass and garnish.
Northern Manhattan
Recipe notes:
There are fantastic craft distilleries all over New York State. One of my favorites is Method Vermouth in Romulus NY. It is vibrant and herbaceous with just the right amount of sweetness. Another favorite is Black Creek Rye form Hudson NY. It is spicy yet mellow and provides just the right amount of kick! Roasted chestnuts might be a seasonal treat, but you can buy pre-roasted packaged veraions on line all year long.
Ingredients:
2 oz Black Creek Rye Whiskey
1 oz Method New York State Vermouth
dash oz New York State Maple Syrup
2 dashes Hella Aromatic Bitters
Garnish: Roasted Chestnut or Luxardo Maraschino Cherries Glassware: Martini
Steps:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir briskly. Strain into martini glass and garnish with Chestnut
The Bronx Cocktail
Recipe notes:
I was born and raised in Mt. Vernon, NY – a suburb of the Bronx – graduated Cardinal Spellman in the Bronx, attended Fordham University in the Bronx and an unabashed, lifelong, bleed blue fan of the Bronx Bombers! Therefore, I made it my mission to give street cred to the Bronx Cocktail. It is not as famous as the Manhattan or Martini and, in previous decades, was dissed as being too weak! How dare they! Thank goodness for the modern era of mixologists for giving this great cocktail the love it deserves. Most cocktail historians attribute its creation to Johnny Solan, a bartender at the famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, who needed a refreshing cocktail after visiting the Bronx Zoo in the early 1900’s.
Ingredients:
2 oz Brooklyn Gin
½ oz Sweet Vermouth
½ oz Dry Vermouth
2 dashes orange bitters
1 oz orange Juice
Glassware: Coup glass Garnish: lemon twist or flamed orange twist
Steps:
Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat. Strain into glass and garnish.
The Bronx Cheer
Recipe notes:
A Bronx cheer is the sound fans at Yankee Stadium make to opposing players. It is more or less the loud sound of flatulence. Crass I know but….. I created this drink to have a refreshing and Sessionable cocktail to enjoy during Yankee games! I use blood orange juice because, well, the Yankees traditionally bloodied all their opponents!
Ingredients:
2 oz Brooklyn Gin
½ oz Method Sweet Vermouth
½ oz Method Dry Vermouth
3 dashes orange bitters
2 oz Blood orange Juice
Seltzer or Tonic for topping the drink
Glassware: Highball glass Garnish: lemon wheel or range wheel
Steps:
Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat. Strain into highball glass with ice, top with soda and garnish.
Jonas Bronck
Recipe notes:
Jonas Bronck was a settler in the Dutch colony New Netherland, later to become New York. Bronck and his family started a farm that eventually grew to 684 acres. After his death both the Bronx River and The Borough of the Bronx were named after him. This is my Danish riff on the Bronx Cocktail. Akvavit is a Dutch spirit much like gin. Unlike gin, which is distilled or flavored with juniper and other spices, aquavit is distilled or flavored with caraway and dill. It is a wonderful spirit and happens to make a great Bloody Mary as well.
Ingredients:
2 oz Aalborg Akvavit
½ oz Sweet Vermouth
½ oz Dry Vermouth
Dash of simple syrup
Dash of lemon juice
2 dashes orange bitters
1 ½ oz orange Juice
Glassware: Coup glass Garnish: a branch of dill or orange twist
Steps:
Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat. Strain into glass and garnish.