The Little Italy Cocktail

This cocktail was introduced to me by the bartender at Island Creek Oyster Bar in Boston's Kenmore Square (at which I spent far too much time - and far, far too much money) one evening in October. The fellow was an understated but skilled practitioner, and once he knew that the Manhattan was my favored cocktail, he was quick to suggest all manner of variations.

This libation was my favorite of the night, and I gleaned the recipe by watching him make it. It's basically a Manhattan with a rye base, but as the name suggests, the flavor of Italian ingredients transforms the old classic, capturing the essence of Manhattan's "Little Italy." It's one of those drinks that is very simple, but challenging in terms of ingredients: you should really use Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth, as it has a distinctive flavor that blends very well with the other hard-to-find ingredient, Cynar.

Cynar is an Italian artichoke-based bitter liqueur. I have found it locally at the ever-bountiful Cambridge Wine and Spirits, at the Fresh Pond Mall (you can also find the Carpano Antica Formula there, as well as the superb California vermouth "Vya"). The other place to look is Dave's Fresh Pasta in Somerville.

After a little research (and I stress a little because I am extremely lazy and my research is cursory at best - which means you should always exercise a healthy skepticism whenever I claim to know anything), I discovered that this delicious drink was created and named by one Audrey Saunders of New York's Pegu Club. And as Imbibe magazine says, "This cocktail is New York all the way. It’s the perfect expression of the neighborhood that Pegu Club’s Audrey Saunders named it for, with the American brawn of rye whiskey and the richness of Italian ingredients."

While you must have the Cynar, and finding the Carpano is highly advisable, the choice of rye is up to you. I used Wild Turkey 101 Rye in my version, because my favorite rye - Rittenhouse 100 - has seemingly become quite scarce in my neck of the woods. However, if you can find the Rittenhouse 100, it's called for in the original recipe, so I suggest going for that. You'll save a few bucks, as well.

Here is the monkey-exact, original recipe:

Little Italy Cocktail

• 2 oz Rye whiskey (Rittenhouse 100 in the original)
• 1/2 oz Cynar
• 3/4 oz Carpano Antica Formula vermouth
• Luxardo maraschino cherry in syrup

In a mixing glass with ice, stir the ingredients until very cold. Strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish with the cherry.

You can find good quality, flavorful cherries, such as the Italian Luxardo cherries in syrup, at the Boston Shaker, or at specialty liquor stores (or even online from Amazon.com). If you hate the bright red maraschino cherries found in supermarkets, then these are worth the extra $10 or $15. Otherwise, the others are fine for garnish.

Salute! Bottoms up.

The Leatherneck Cocktail

I had never heard of this until it was introduced to me by close friends, who also happen to be avid appreciators of the mixed drink. I have to admit, when they listed off the ingredients, it sounded like a revolting combination. The color, however, was hypnotic like the cerulean seas of Greece. Or something like that. And it tasted marvelous!


"Leatherneck" is slang for a member of the Marines. The following is lifted from the DrinkGal website:

Created in 1951 by a former Marine and New York World Telegram columnist, Frank Farrell. Ted Haigh found this cocktail in the book "Bottoms Up" by Ted Saucier, and Saucier quoted Farrell as giving instructions for this cocktail, saying "Shake violently on the rocks and serve in a cocktail glass... Stop smoking. Fasten your seat belts. Empty your fountain pens. Because after two gulps, you'll seriously consider yourself capable of straightening out Chinese fire drills." 

Of course, the name is from the term "Leatherneck" which referred to Marines who used to wear a high leather collar in the Revolutionary War to protect their necks from swords.

The other night I tried my hand at the Leatherneck Cocktail. My willing spouse and I had to see that color again. I needed to refresh my memory of the taste. I bought some blue curaçao (same taste as orange curaçao, except colored bright blue) and some limes. We were off and running. After a few of these, you'll be ready for a risky mission of some sort.

The Leatherneck Cocktail

• 2 oz rye whiskey (I use Rittenhouse 100-proof rye)
• 3/4 oz blue curaçao
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice

Shake with vigor and strain into a chilled cocktail glass - any glass you have that will show off the fine coloring of this delightful adult beverage. You can garnish with a lime wheel, but actually I prefer not to and advise against it. Despite appearing in the pictures here, I think the garnish messes with the serene beauty of the drink.