Little Italy


Has it really been that long since I lasted posted? Boo! Well, shoot, let me throw in a cocktail I've been making at Union which is getting some curious looks and satisfied grins.

This one is another in the long line of Audrey Saunders classics, and is on my list of favorite cocktail recipes listed below the Lebowski picture, part of a series I'll be doing here writing about those recipes. Like the Silver Lining, the Little Italy comes from the Food & Wine cocktail book series, this time from the 2007 edition (the '08 edition is now on sale and I'm looking forward to snapping one up soon. It's just a terrific series).

When I flip through a cocktail book or even a website, the recipes that usually catch my interest either have a new homemade ingredient I don't know about or combine a curious mix of ingredients I hadn't thought of. Cynar, being a hyper-bitter artichoke liquor, always gets me interested. Rye generally does as well. Put 'em together and yeah, I can't resist.

Here, the elements converge very nicely. The sweet vermouth knocks some of the edge off the Cynar, but not all of it, making this a Manhattan with a distinct bitter flavor that doesn't compare with anything I've had before. I've taken the liberty of flaming an orange twist in the drink and that addition seems to get favorable nods at the bar.

Little Italy

2 oz rye
1/2 oz Cynar
3/4 oz sweet vermouth
2 brandied cherries skewered on a stick
flamed orange twist

Stir the liquors together in an ice-filled mixing glass until cold, then strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with the skewered cherries and flame and orange twist on the top.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

It's a bit too easy to drink, I could see myself having way too many.

T. Mixeur said...

This is the sort of cocktail that is right up my alley. Just one more incentive to finally, at long last, get me into Union. What nights would I find you there?

If you're interested: Le Mixeur Quatre this Saturday night, 8pm.

keith waldbauer said...

hey ted, come on down. i'm there fri, sat, and sunday. and every other thursday.

moving company said...

Hey Man ! Thanks for recipe. . Last month I moved in to my new house and made it. It was too yummy. And I felt very much relaxed after tasting it. Now I am addicted of it and I used to drank it as it also easy to made. It just takes few minutes of our time.

Removals London said...

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Unknown said...

Nice easy recipe thanks for the tip- i guess i will run late again for my A meeting :)
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