Tag Archives: Maker’s Mark Bourbon

Manhattan Special Cocktail

Posted on June 19, 2013 | Leave a comment

Manhattan Special Cocktail uses Bourbon or Rye, Benedictine, Sweet Vermouth and Cherry Garnish – photo by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

The Manhattan Special Cocktail calls for cocktail glass serve. The particular evening I sampled the Manhattan Special I was feeling a bit more on the rocks than swooning over a cocktail. It was a beautiful evening spent out on the deck with moderate temperatures. It felt like the perfect evening for an oversized glass with oversized ice ball and a very special variation on the classic Manhattan.

The Manhattan Special Cocktail Recipe

Manhattan Special looks a bit like Jupiter. I like that! Manhattan Special Cocktail uses Bourbon or Rye, Benedictine, Sweet Vermouth and Cherry Garnish – photo by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

Just a note… as my friend Tom Ufer commented, the Manhattan Special looks a bit like Jupiter. I like that!

Manhattan Special

1-1/2 ounce Rye or Bourbon

1/2 ounce Sweet Vermouth

1/2 ounce Benedictine

1 dash Classic Bitters

Cherry Garnish – optional

Combine liquids in mixing glass with ice. Stir until completely chilled. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

By the way… that Jupiter look was made by first placing a large ice ball in a slightly oversized, rounded glass. Pour rye over ice ball followed by vermouth and Benedictine. Do not stir. Add dash of bitters. {I added about 3 dashes of bitters and no cherry}. Watch the rings just start to float around the ice ball.

Manhattan Special Cocktail Notes

I opted for Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey at 100 proof for the Manhattan Special. Rittenhouse is an affordable rye with cinnamon notes. Benedictine and vermouth carry the cinnamon notes to a higher level with enough weight and sweetness to smooth out any rough edges in the rye.

What Makes My Manhattan Special ?

People ask me all the time, “What is your favorite bourbon.” The short answer; I don’t have a favorite bourbon. I have favorite bourbons for favorite recipes. My bar cabinet is stocked with five, six or maybe ten different brands at any given time. These are the bourbons I purchase, not bourbon samples. The longer, more accurate answer; I have particular bourbons I favor for particular drinks. I have particular glasses I favor for particular drinks and cocktails, too.

Maker’s Mark Manhattan with Carpano Antica Formula is just one variation of a classic Manhattan – photo by Mixologist Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

My typical Manhattan is made with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Carpano Antica Formula and usually Angostura Bitters. The cherry might be one of my Bourbon Spiced Cherries, a Luxardo Maraschino Cherry, or one of those regular every day ice cream topper cherries you find at the grocery store. I might even skip the cherry.

Praline Pecan Pie Manhattan uses Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Praline Pecan Pie Liqueur, Sweet Vermouth, Orange Bitters and Orange Twist – recipe and photo by Mixologist Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

I also make a Praline Pecan Pie Manhattan cocktail variation with Woodford Reserve Bourbon and Praline Pecan Liqueur with orange twist that is heavenly. {That is my opinion, of course. Sample it and tell me your thoughts, please!}

Then again I venture way off course with Tony Abou-Ganim’s Just For Mary cocktail. Look closely at the ingredients and you find the awesomely delicious wayward Manhattan; (ri)1 Straight Rye Whiskey, Heering Cherry Liqueur, Lillet Blanc, Orange Bitters and Brandied Cherry Garnish. Trust me. It is a must try more than once kind of cocktail. I have.

So really, I don’t have one favorite bourbon. I have several bourbons I like to drink neat, on the rocks and in cocktails. They all taste a little different and I choose them like I choose a pair of shoes. Am I feeling laid back? Dressy? Spicy? Sassy? Bourbons are the same. They are spicy, sophisticated, sweet, dry, rounded, floral, dry, etc. You name it, bourbon has it. There is a recipe and mood to fit it. Choose wisely. Stir it. Sip it. Enjoy it. Try it again.

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Posted in Cocktails, Short Drinks

Tagged Angostura Bitters, Benedictine, Bourbon, Carpano Antica Formula, Classic Cocktails, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Manhattan, Orange Bitters, Rye, Sweet Vermouth, Tony Abou-Ganim, Woodford Reserve Bourbon

The Experimental Factor: Maker’s 46 & Maker’s Mark Bourbon

Posted on November 18, 2010 | 1 Comment

It looks like every bourbon distiller dips their staves into the experimental barrel behind warehouse doors. It just takes longer for their trial and error research to reach maturity. The Maker’s Mark Distillery is no different. Maker’s 46 uses fully matured Maker’s Mark as a starting point. Specially seared staves are used in an additional aging process to optimize flavor and enhance the tasting experience.

Maker’s 46 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky

94 proof – Barrel Finished with Oak Staves

Color nearly identical to Maker’s Mark only slightly deeper.

Aroma: Orange, Clove, Nut, Oak

Taste: Thinner than expected, lots of orange, vanilla, cinnamon, cherry in the finish. Pecan in the nose. Chocolate but not sickly sweet. Lushness is farther removed with a bit more burn. More drying. More orange.

Maker’s Mark

90 proof

Aroma: Orange, Clove

Taste: Drying cinnamon, high orange, red lushness in here that hits in the first sip like kissing full ripe lips or biting into a juicy piece of fruit bursting with flavor. The lushness stays to the center of the tongue almost begging for a splash of red vermouth to come out as a play companion for cocktails. Yet it’s wonderful as is. Chocolate and coffee. Baker’s chocolate with faintest hint of sweet.

Personally my preference leans toward Maker’s Mark rather than Maker’s 46. Sometimes original hits the spot right on the (Maker’s) Mark.

Maker’s Mark Manhattan – Cheri Loughlin version

2 parts Maker’s Mark

1/2 part Carpano Antica Formula

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

1 teaspoon Maraschino Cherry Juice

Maraschino Cherry Garnish

Place cherry and cherry juice in well of chilled cocktail glass. Set aside. Place remaining liquids in mixing glass with ice. Shake or stir according to preference to chill thoroughly. Strain into prepared cocktail glass.

Maker’s 46 retails for approximately $35.

Maker’s 46 sample for review courtesy representatives of Maker’s Mark.

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

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Posted in Classic Cocktails, Reviews, Whiskey Cocktails

Tagged Bourbon, Carpano Antica Formula, Cherry Juice, Classic Bitters, Classic Cocktails, Maker's 46, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Manhattan

Hitting the Maker’s Mark: Hangman’s Noose Cocktail Recipe

Posted on October 5, 2009 | Leave a comment

Maker’s Mark Bourbon carries off as a rather hearty bourbon, dark in color with rich, deep flavor. There are subtle cherry tones with chocolate filtering in between hints of orange and possibly a fraction of apricot peel. At 90 proof there is surprisingly little burn. The maker hit his mark right on target with this American Spirit.

Hangman’s Noose – created by Cheri Loughlin

1-1/4 measure Maker’s Mark Bourbon

1/2 measure Godiva Liqueur Original

1/4 measure Sweet Vermouth

Place ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into an old fashioned cocktail glass.

The Hangman’s Noose plays up the characteristics of Maker’s Mark Bourbon with a bit of cinnamon and chocolate shine coming through without dominating the original spirit. Surprisingly not too sweet. Vermouth helps add a little balance while bringing our more spice. This makes a great Halloween drink recipe due to the name or holiday cocktail due its classic style.

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Posted in Halloween Cocktails, Reviews, Whiskey Cocktails

Tagged Bourbon, Chocolate Liqueur, Godiva, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth

Political Mixology: The Running Mate

Posted on November 1, 2008 | Leave a comment

The Running Mate – James Lee

2 measures Maker’s Mark Bourbon

1 measure Simple Syrup

2 Lemon Wedges

1 Watermelon Slice

Lemon Wheel & Watermelon Slice Garnish

Muddle lemon wedges and one watermelon slice with simple syrup in mixing glass. Add bourbon and ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into large rocks glass over crushed ice. Garnish with lemon wheel and watermelon slice.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2011 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.