The alphageek is not really a big mixed drink guy. Why ruin the taste of a great base alcohol with other ingredients that just cover up the taste? However, there is a drink that is a great sipper, and is easy to make and has many small subtle variations: the Manhattan. Plus, you get to add bourbon. An earlier article discussed making a Manhattan using the perfect way. Since that article was published, many new combinations have been attempted, with many interesting success stories combined with a failure or two along the way.

Today, is short and sweet: a simple combination for a Manhattan that removes the bite of the rye and mellows out the sweetness of the vermouth and cherry into a few ounces of liquid joy.

Before just running on at the mouth about the recipe, keep in mind that each of these ingredients could be an article, or even a series of articles all on its own. For now, just go with making a drink to relax. If you want to change the ingredients, that is fine! However, you will get a slightly different taste. Go ahead, make the drink your own.

I started with some Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey, 110 proof. At 110 proof and being a rye, there is considerable bite. I did not really care for sipping something this strong. However, there is a strong flavor there that works in this drink. Use two parts of the Rye.

Vermouth is made by Carpano, not the drink Carpano

Next is vermouth, and I go with a classic: Antica Formula from Carpano. This is a sweet vermouth that balances out the Rye nicely. Don’t get mixed up and get something else by Carpano. You will need one part vermouth.

I found some cherries that were an impulse purchase that worked out. Go with Filthy Red Cherry. They make other cherries, and those are good too but I make this variation with Filthy Red Cherry. The suggested cherry is some sort of not sundae sweet maraschino cherry.

This drink won’t be the same without bitters.

Finally, I add a dash or two of Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters. I think bitters is not quite the right description. In this bitters bottle, I get a sweetness that is not really bitters, but that is what makes this bitters work with the strong Rye. The sweetness balances with the harshness of the Rye to make a smooth, enjoyable drink.

Oh, go get one of those ice cube trays that make the giant ice cubes. Those giant ice cubes just make for an awesome drink.

Cheers!

The world of Bourbon has become crazy. The alphageek started a website to simply compile a list of what bourbons he had enjoyed, write a short review and maybe take a picture or two to remember. In the next few years, bourbon has become a crazy world of limited releases, raised prices and mediocre products commanding quite the pretty penny. I could write an entire article, or even a series of articles, on how the increased popularity of bourbon has changed my tastes, behaviors and what I am willing to try. Those thoughts are for another time.

Motivated by the craziness in the whiskey world, the alphageek picked up a bottle of Sazerac Rye at the Virginia ABC store. What was the motivation? Simple: the sign said limit one per customer and the price was reasonable by bourbon standards.

I took a look at the Virginia ABC web site while writing. The web site claims my bottle has aged 6 years. However, I can’t find an age statement so I am not sure the product I am reviewing is the same product on the web site. My bottle says 90 proof.

I opened the bottle and found the aroma interesting. I got a spicy combination of oak and vanilla. Yes, I almost always get oak. I think other reviewers make stuff up better than I do. Remember, I promised my thoughts.

The first sip was an amazing, unique experience for a rye: a buttery, caramel flavor that is unique to this reviewer. As the rye rolled over the tongue, it became more complex with no burning. There is a body to this rye that most other whiskeys don’t have.

The sip went down easily, leaving a warm feeling, with no burning. It is hard to believe this is a 90 proof drink. It left me going “this is a rye”? I can see why this product is in limited release in Virginia ABC stores.

This rye is highly recommended. The alphageek is not usually a rye drinker, except in a Manhattan. Rye is too strong a drink to enjoy straight. That opinion changed with the Sazerac Rye.If you see some on the shelves, go pick it up.

If you have made it this far, a short word about the writings and the site is in order. To make writing as easy as possible, fancy stuff that was going in the background is no longer happening. I have decided to just post pictures and write. If you like what you read, please take a minute and share a link to this page somewhere interesting.

I am going to try to post more frequently again. I enjoy using the other side of my brain from time to time.