In "Two Guys and a Drink", Dave and John focus on a single drink
and experiment with multiple recipes and ingredients as they search for
their own "perfect" recipe. Of course, the "perfect" recipe is purely
subjective; as with life, the cocktail is a journey, not a destination,
and you should find your own. For this post, they are taking on a classic: The Manhattan.
A LITTLE HISTORY
The
Manhattan may not be the oldest cocktail around, but it is an
undeniable classic. David Embury, a beacon of light for all amateur
mixers and imbibers, lists it as one of his Six Basic Cocktails. Its
history, like most cocktails, is a muddled one, but it was most
certainly invented in New York City in the 1870s and first appeared in
bartender guides as early as 1882. The Manhattan is especially
notable, according to David Wonderich, for leading the way for other
vermouth-blended cocktails. Is it possible that, without the Manhattan, the Martini would never have the prominent cocktail it is today?
Probably not - come on, it's the Martini - but that
does not mean the Manhattan's contributions to the evolution of the
cocktail should be underestimated.
Documenting three friends’ explorations in the land of libations, from the re-discovery of pre-prohibition classics to experimentation in modern mixology techniques and hand-crafted ingredients.
