London Manhattan – the Red Eye
While there are many dispute its origins (see Manhattan Stories below), everyone can agree is after 150 years, it is still a classic cocktail.
The earliest recipe which we have found is in “The Flowing Bowl” by William Schmidts, published in 1891. Absinthe seems to have left the recipe when it landed on ours shores at the turn of the century and our version uses the syrup from maraschino cherry to sweeten the drink. We call it the Red Eye after those overnight flights from New York to London and the red cherry in the drink.
Ingredients:
50ml Rye*
2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
Strip of orange peel
Luxardo maraschino cherries or the more tart Opies Black Cherries in Kirsch
A splash of cherry syrup
How to Make:
Chill glasses with ice whilst you prepare or pre-chill in freezer
Combine No:2 Camille’s Red, Rye & Bitters in mixing glass add ice cubes and stir.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Twist the orange peel zest- side down over the glass to release oils
Add cherries with a splash of syrup and serve.
*For a true Red Eye, use East London Liquor Company's London Rye, with its notes of candied orange peel, sour cherry candies, toffee apples & chilli peppers. Alternatively try Oxford Rye made with organic ancient heritage grains twice distilled and then rested in American Oak giving an intoxicating aroma of sandalwood & vanilla, with a palate of creamy praline, nuts and sourdough and a finish of cloves, nutmeg and smooth spice.
Riffs on this Cocktail
For more sparkle sprinkle with Smith & Sinclair’s Black Cherry Glitter Dust
For a 19th century twist, swap Angostura for Dr Adam Elmegirab's Boker's Bitters (created in 1828, they were the bitters of choice in New York’s "golden age" of cocktail making.)
Adam Ford author of “Vermouth” suggests serving it on the rocks with a cherry perched on the side of the glass.
Uber-cool barman Ryan Chetiyawardana (a.k.a. Mr Lyan) uses a mix of Peychauds & Angustura bitters, lemon rind and a shot of Marachino Liqueur in addition to above then mixes it, bottles & chills before serving.
Tristan Stephenson, The Curious Bartender, makes 6 times our amount adding 15ml Marachino Liqueur to the drink replacing Angustora with Bokers bitters. Mixes and rests in a steel flask for 6 weeks before serving.
Manhattan Stories
The Manhattan is often said to have invented by Dr Ian Marshall for Lady Randolph Churchill at the Manhattan Club in November 1874 clearly fake news as she was giving birth to Winston in London at the time. Credit instead goes to a chap called ‘Black’ at the Hoffman House (see picture) which was according to press at the time was in
‘just about the liveliest part of New York City, both in and outdoors. Showman, actors, pugilists, and fast men are all attracted by some sort of magnetic influence. And we might say that night is turned into day; for by time most of the saloons get closed, the milkman, butcher and gutter snipe are just commencing their days business.’
For over 150 years, this has been a drink to turn night in day.
Notes From The Founders
Mad Men the Suitcase: S4 E7: Our favourite episode of Mad Men as we get under the skin of Peggy and Don and their relationship over a few Manhattans (of course)