Little Italy
A Manhattan with Cynar in it — earthy, savoury, unmistakably Italian.
The Method
How to make it
- 01
Combine rye, vermouth and Cynar in a mixing glass.
- 02
Fill with ice and stir 30 seconds, until well chilled and properly diluted.
- 03
Strain into a chilled coupe.
- 04
Drop in two brandied cherries on a pick.
Bartender's Tip
Cynar is only 16.5% ABV, so it dilutes fast. Stir it a touch shorter than a standard Manhattan or the drink goes watery.
A Little History
Audrey Saunders built the Little Italy at Pegu Club in 2005, naming it for the neighbourhood and for the Italian amaro doing the work. It's the drink that convinced a generation of bartenders that Cynar belonged in a Manhattan — the artichoke bitterness reads as savoury depth, not vegetable.
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One short Friday dispatch: a bottle worth buying, a cocktail worth mixing, and a little Italian history.
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