Much like its namesake, the Manhattan is having a surge in popularity. When Nick Bennett, the head bartender at Porchlight in—you guessed it—Manhattan, sat down to speak to Bloomberg, he said that “it’s in this weird little transition period where young women are ordering it and old men are ordering it.” As young Manhattanites move in and try to assimilate to the culture, it almost becomes a go-to way of showing that they are glamorous and cultured.

After all, the Manhattan cocktail was named after The Manhattan Club, a mansion for New York City socialites to congregate back in the late 1800s.

While the origin story of the drink is hazy, one thing that is almost certain is that it is somehow tied to Leonard Jerome, a rich New York City lawyer and businessman who once owned the building that housed The Manhattan Club, Bloomberg reports.

Fun fact, Jerome wasn’t actually born in Manhattan. He was from Syracuse. Cheers to that.

Unfortunately, the Manhattan didn’t take the name of Jerome’s birthplace. But, we can create an entirely different drink that looks just like the Manhattan and give it whatever name we want. So, I am calling this one, The Syracuse: Not Manhattan.

It is perfect to serve up at your April Fools’ Day parties this week because it really looks just like a Manhattan. It has the signature dark amber color, with a pop from the maraschino cherry garnish.

Instead of the typical whiskey and vermouth found in a traditional Manhattan, The Syracuse is made with 1911 gin from local Beak and Skiff Apple Orchard and fresh apple juice, all as an homage to the popular Syracuse fall activity, apple picking. Instead of the sophisticated, and in my opinion, much too bitter Manhattan, this drink is light, crisp and sweet with a slight bite at the end — much like the actual cities themselves. Manhattan has the sophistication and the grit on lock, but Syracuse has quirky character, light-hearted people and fresh air from the nature that surrounds it.

Recipe:

Mix one part 1911 Gin, two parts fresh apple juice, and 5 dashes of angostura bitters with ice. Pour into martini glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Published on March 29, 2017 at 9:40 pm

Contact Aline: amarti22@syr.edu