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The Brooklyn cocktail is a spin on the Manhattan with rye whiskey, dry vermouth, maraschino and amaro. Here’s how to make this classy drink!
Love a Manhattan? Then you absolutely must try this unique spin: the Brooklyn cocktail! The Brooklyn is similarly spirit forward, with a few special twists to add nuance. Maraschino liqueur and dry vermouth add intrigue and round out the flavor in this sophisticated drink.
This one is perfect for impressing friends at a dinner party or cocktail hour. And if you spring for a bottle of Maraschino, there are lots of other classic cocktails you can make. Here’s what to know about this historic drink.
What Is The Brooklyn Cocktail?
The Brooklyn cocktail is a mixed drink named after the Brooklyn neighborhood in New York City. It’s a spin on the Manhattan using rye whiskey, dry vermouth and Maraschino liqueur.
The first printed recipe for this drink appeared in 1908, invented by a bartender named Jack Grohusko. Jack was a bartender at a restaurant in lower Manhattan and his only link to Brooklyn was that the owner of the restaurant lived in Brooklyn. Whatever the case, the name stuck!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredients in a Brooklyn cocktail are:
- Rye whiskey: The peppery notes of rye whiskey are what makes this drink, but you can use bourbon in a pinch: it’s also delicious. (See my guide to types of whiskey for more.)
- Dry vermouth: The modern definition uses dry vermouth for crisp and herbal notes, but the original 1908 recipe used sweet vermouth.
- Maraschino liqueur: This cherry flavored liqueur adds depth and body; read more below.
- Amer Picon or another herbal, citrusy amaro: This adds bitter-orange flavor notes; Angostura bitters work as a substitute.
All About Maraschino Liqueur
The Brooklyn cocktail features an ingredient you might not already have on hand: maraschino liqueur. Now, this is not the liquid from a jar of maraschino cherries! Don’t be fooled by the name. Here’s what to know about it:
- Maraschino liqueur is a clear, cherry-flavored liqueur that’s used in several classic cocktails. The flavor is dry with a hint of sweet, with sour cherry and almond notes.
- How much does Maraschino liqueur cost? It costs about $30 for a bottle. It’s worth buying for the at-home home bartender. There are several brands of maraschino liqueur: a popular one is Luxardo (which we found at our local liquor store).
- What cocktails use Maraschino liqueur? It’s also used in other classic cocktails like the Martinez, Hemingway Daiquiri, Last Word, and the lovely purple Aviation.
Amer Picon And Some Substitutes
Amer Picon is a bitter-orange flavored French aperitif. It’s used in some classic cocktail recipes, but it’s very hard to find in the US. Here’s what to substitute for Amer Picon in the Brooklyn cocktail:
- An herbal, citrusy amaro like Amaro Tosolini. An amaro is an Italian bitter liqueur. Your best bet for finding Amaro Tosolini is to go to your local liquor store and check out the tasting notes on various types of amaro. (Ask the store for help if you need it.) I do recommend trying to find Amaro Tosolini: it adds interesting flavors and you can use it for an Amaro Spritz and other amaro cocktails.
- Angostura bitters. The easier substitute for Amer Picon in a Brooklyn cocktail is simply a few dashes of bitters! You can use any type of bitters you have on hand, but Angostura is the easiest to find.
Dry Vermouth or Sweet Vermouth?
Vermouth is a fortified wine, meaning that liquor has been added to the wine to make it last longer. There are two main types: sweet (usually red) and dry (usually white). You probably already have one or both in your liquor collection. Here’s what to know about the vermouth in the Brooklyn cocktail:
- Dry vermouth: The Brooklyn is traditionally served with dry vermouth. But the original 1906 recipe used sweet vermouth. According to experts (quoted in Difford’s Guide), the drink might taste even better with sweet vermouth.
- Sweet vermouth: Making the Brooklyn with sweet vermouth makes it closer to a Manhattan and Martinez.
How To Make A Brooklyn Cocktail
The Brooklyn cocktail is made just like a Manhattan: stirred in a mixing glass, not shaken. Here’s what to do:
- Build in a mixing glass. Add rye whiskey, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and amaro or bitters.
- Add ice and stir. Stir 20 to 30 seconds, until the glass frosts.
- Strain and garnish. Strain the drink into the glass, and add a lemon twist or a cherry.
More Spirit-Forward Cocktails To Try
The Brooklyn is a spirit-forward cocktail that’s made with all liquor and no mixers, which gives it a straight-forward, boozy flavor and makes it great for sipping. There are several classic cocktails that have a similar formula:
- Manhattan Simply whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry!
- Martinez Like a Manhattan with gin! It also uses sweet vermouth and Maraschino liqueur.
- Toronto Rye whiskey, Fernet-Branca and simple syrup make a boozy combination.
- Rob Roy Scotch, red vermouth and bitters: a cocktail for Scotch lovers!
- Hanky Panky Gin, sweet vermouth and Fernet-Branca make a sippable gin drink.
Brooklyn Cocktail
The Brooklyn cocktail is a spin on the Manhattan with rye whiskey, dry vermouth, maraschino and amaro. Here’s how to make this classy drink!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) rye whiskey
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) dry vermouth
- ½ tablespoon Maraschino liqueur
- ½ tablespoon herbal citrusy amaro like Amer Picon*, or a few dashes of Angostura bitters
- For the garnish: lemon twist, Luxardo cherry or cocktail cherry
Instructions
- Add the rye whiskey, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and amaro in a cocktail mixing glass (or any other type of glass). Fill the mixing glass with 1 handful ice and stir continuously for 30 seconds.
- Strain into a coupe or cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist and Luxardo cherry.
Notes
*Amer Picon can be hard to find, so ask your liquor store for an herbal, citrusy amaro. We used Amaro Tosolini.
Bigallet China China Liqueur is a decent substitute for Picon Amer and much easier to get in the US.
Hi there, I believe your instructions for this drink are from another cocktail.
I’ll go for the original lineup of ingredients, thanks!
We’ve updated the recipe. Thank you!