A variation on the Manhattan, the Little Italy cocktail combines rye whiskey with vermouth and an Italian bitter. Here’s how to mix it.
Little Italy Cocktail – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
Created in 2005 by Audrey Saunders of the influential Pegu Club bar in New York City (now closed), Little Italy has become a modern classic. The origin of the name is twofold. It gives a nod to the Little Italy neighbourhood near the Pegu Club as well as the Italian ingredients in the drink.
Essentially a Manhattan variation, the cocktail combines rye whiskey with Italian sweet vermouth and Cynar – an artichoke-based Italian bitter aperitivo consisting of 13 botanicals – in lieu of Angostura bitters. The cocktail is garnished with a brandied cherry on a cocktail pick
The drink balances sweetness and bitterness with a herbaceous hint from the Amaro.
Little Italy Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 60ml rye whiskey
- 20ml sweet vermouth
- 15ml Cynar
Glassware: coupette
Garnish: brandied cherry
Method
In a mixing glass, add the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and Cynar and stir with ice. Strain into a chilled coupette. Garnish with a brandied cherry on a cocktail pick.
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