The Brooklyn is the Manhattan’s lesser-known cousin: rye, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur and a bitter amaro. This Brooklyn Cocktail recipe is drier, more herbal and a bit more complicated than the original, and I like it more every time I make it.
It’s an old drink that fell out of fashion and came back, and it’s worth seeking out if you like stirred whiskey cocktails.
1
serving4
minutesRye, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur and bitters, stirred and served up. Dry, herbal and slightly cherry-sweet.
Ingredients
60 ml (2 oz) rye whiskey
30 ml (1 oz) dry vermouth
5 ml (1 tsp) maraschino liqueur
5 ml (1 tsp) Amer Picon (or 2 dashes Angostura bitters and 1 dash orange bitters)
Ice
Cherry or lemon peel, to garnish
Method
- Chill a coupe glass.
- Add the rye, dry vermouth, maraschino and Amer Picon (or bitters) to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir for about 25 seconds, until very cold.
- Strain into the coupe and garnish with a cherry or a lemon peel.
Thomas’s tip
- Amer Picon is hard to find in the UK. The bitters swap works fine, but add an extra dash of orange bitters if you can.
What does a Brooklyn Cocktail taste like?
Dry and herbal, with rye spice and a hint of cherry sweetness from the maraschino. It’s less sweet and more savoury than a Manhattan, with a slightly bitter finish.
Tips for a better Brooklyn Cocktail
Go gently with the maraschino. It’s sweet and strong, and a little goes a long way.
Use a dry vermouth you actually like, kept in the fridge. Old vermouth tastes of damp cardboard.
Brooklyn Cocktail variations
Swap dry vermouth for sweet and it’s closer to a Manhattan. Add a dash of Angostura if you want more spice. For a more modern version, try the Red Hook, which is a relative.
Best whisky for a Brooklyn Cocktail
Rye is the answer, because it needs the spice to balance the dry vermouth. Pick one at 45% or above.
Brooklyn Cocktail: quick answers
What is a Brooklyn cocktail?
A stirred drink of rye whiskey, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur and Amer Picon or bitters. It’s a drier relative of the Manhattan.
What can I use instead of Amer Picon?
A mix of Angostura and orange bitters works well. Some people use Amaro CioCiaro or Torani Amer.
Is a Brooklyn sweeter than a Manhattan?
No. It uses dry vermouth rather than sweet, so it’s drier and more herbal.
Amer Picon is hard to find in the UK. The bitters swap works fine, but add an extra dash of orange bitters if you can.
Thomas Grønvold is the founder of Caskable and a whisky enthusiast who believes the best way to learn about whisky is simply to drink it, compare it, and stay curious. From supermarket favourites to bottles from distilleries around the world, he writes about what he actually tastes and experiences, without pretending you need to be an expert to enjoy a good dram.
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