Do you miss going to the bar and watching the bartender shake up something special for you? We especially miss those trendy cocktails that get lit before your eyes and suddenly the entire room smells like a cozy fire pit. Well, the secret is out and these cocktails are not only limited to cocktail bars or mixologists and you can create one at home! Enter Mike’s Smoked Manhattan, this is a great drink to warm up with this winter, and the perfect way to practice your bartending skills for entertaining in the future.
We have made it easy for you with some of our local favourites. All you’ll need is a few ingredients to get started.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Traynor’s Haberdasher Vermouth
- 2 oz Premium Whiskey (Bourbon or Rye)
- 4 dashes Kinsip’s Maple Walnut Handcrafted Bitters
- 1 Cedar Grilling Plank
- 1 Small Blow Torch
- Garnish: Dehydrated Orange Wheel
Directions:
Step 1: Start by lightly torching the cedar plank with a small blow torch and as soon as you start seeing a small flame cover the area with your glass upside down.
Step 2: Meanwhile, pour the vermouth, whisky and bitters into a mixing jar with lots of ice and stir for about 20 seconds.
Step 3: Grab your smoked glass and add some fresh ice.
Step 4: Strain your mixed ingredients into the glass.
Step 5: Garnish the cocktail with a dehydrated orange wheel.
Early versions of the Manhattan cocktail call for rye, with its spicier, edgier profile. We find that bourbon creates a beautiful and more mellow drink, while Kinsip’s Maple Walnut Handcrafted Bitters helps brighten the cocktail’s edges, bringing the whiskey and Traynor’s Haberdasher Vermouth together seamlessly. The orange garnish lends a touch of citrus notes that pairs well with the cedar smoked glass.
PRO TIP: Use a King Cube ice cube mold to make extra large ice cubes that will help your Manhattan to dilute less and look extra fancy!
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We want to see how you’re getting creative with our wines and vermouth — be sure to tag us @traynorvineyard so we can share. Cheers!
