The Manhattan cocktail and Homemade Maraschino Cherries

Posted on November 5, 2011 Written by Toni Dash 16 Comments

When I turned 21 I was living in Santa Cruz California. I’d gone to college there to study Marine Biology and also took a part time job at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Being one of the last seaside amusement parks in the U.S., and one serving alcohol, left it an adventure to behold in terms of patron engagement. A milder favorite was a woman who’d had a few glasses of wine too many, teetering up to my ticket booth to announce she’d love the beach if it weren’t for the sand (?). Staffed with co-eds like myself looking to make some pocket money while toiling through the books, I met some of my closest and most fun friends of that time.

Santa Cruz at the time was a vortex for untethered people. I’ve never lived anywhere where people would tell you more often ‘I was just driving on a road trip and after stopping for lunch, I stayed’. It drew an eclectic crowd and my circle of friends reflected this. When my twenty first birthday rolled around, it was this posse that decided we needed to go bar hopping. At that phase of life one has the constitution to try a variety of mixed drinks one after the other with little ill affect. We were not drinking to get drunk but to sample cocktails…..because we could. Gin and Tonics, Stingers, Margarita, Ouzo (ug).

Each friend chose a venue and a cocktail to sample. We went to all the mainstream popular places trying a cocktail at each. When it rolled round to be bohemian sophisticate ‘Ruby’s’ turn (a nickname given to her as more fitting than her birth name ‘Becky’; she was the only one we knew who wore red lipstick and did not feel compelled to wash and blow dry her hair daily) we ambled down the main drag to a dark, dank looking club for a Manhattan. The place was ‘a joint’ in the truest sense. It felt we’d grown up by walking across the threshold. The patrons were older and clearly more worldly.

I’d never heard of a Manhattan and the flavor profile was beyond my reach at that moment though the color, the aroma, the look of the glass in our hands reminded me of the chic presentation of smoking in the 50’s driving everyone to do it. It seemed sleek and cool. Little did I know after spending a decade devoted to Gin and Tonic’s I’d loop back to reacquaint myself with the Manhattan and from that point there would be no other I’d call ‘my favorite cocktail’ (I do flirt with others during the summer but they are merely warm weather flings).

MANHATTAN

There are variations on this recipe with specificity given to the whiskey brand, whether to shake or stir, all accompanied with deep debate on the merits and flaws of all. This is how I’ve made them for years with sound results.

· 2 ounces bourbon (Maker’s Mark is a favorite for this cocktail)

· ½ ounce sweet vermouth

· A few dashes Angostura Bitters

In a shaker with a cup of crushed ice, add the bourbon and sweet vermouth. Shake and strain into a martini class. Add bitters and a few maraschino cherries. Enjoy.

Being a devoted DIY’er, I’ve been dying to make my own Maraschino Cherries. After researching I settled on a simple recipe from Melissa Clark the Food Writer for the New York Times. It involves two ingredients; tart/pie cherries and Maraschino liqueur. Having a cache of the cherries in the freezer from picking this past summer I was excited to give it a go. Melissa indicates you can substitute canned pie cherries as well.

I will note in the process of making the recipe I had my first involuntary flambé experience. Speaking to a departing friend at the door and I let the liqueur simmer too long (or perhaps the gas flame licked up the side of the saucepan to ignite the contents). Next thing I knew I had a 2 foot high flame and no clue how to tame it. Keep your eye on the liqueur when simmering if you make it! This recipe takes maybe 10 minutes plus 2 days refrigeration time.

I did not adapt Melissa’s recipe so I will not post it here but will provide a link so you may make them too (great holiday gift or hostess gift idea!): Melissa Clark’s Maraschino Cherry recipe from the NYT.

Comments

Meeling says:

November 5, 2011 at 4:30 pm

I love the idea of homemade maraschino cherries…the store bought ones are rather nasty if you ask me. Must give these a try!

I love Angostura…it adds such depth to cocktails. My husband and I have a cocktail recipe book from the 40's and it uses a lot of bitters and oddly enough maraschino liqueur quite frequently.

Interesting post!

motherrimmy says:

November 5, 2011 at 4:37 pm

Yikes! I'll bet that was an exciting experience. I've not had flames in the kitchen, but I've exploded eggs before. That wasn't fun either. The cherries sounds amazing. They'd be great on ice cream too.

PolaM says:

November 5, 2011 at 5:46 pm

Love maraschino cherries! They are just so good and boozey!

Kitchen Riffs says:

November 5, 2011 at 7:53 pm

Love Manhattans, though I prefer mine with rye rather than bourbon. Maraschino cherries are on my “to do” list. If I use Clark's recipe (there are several others out there) I'll have to make sure to keep a lid for the pot handy in case mine catch fire! Great post – thanks.

Rosemary says:

November 6, 2011 at 1:56 am

I have to tell you that a Manhattan is, has been, and always will be my favorite celebratory drink! I never thought of making my own cherries — and the more the merrier. I'll watch the flames, though. Thanks for the reminder . . . .

Karen Harris says:

November 6, 2011 at 1:47 pm

A couple of years ago I look a little trip to California with my mother and daughter and Santa Cruz was a lunchtime stop for us. It is a beautiful place and I might have stayed too if I hadn't left my son and husband back in Colorado. Oh the sacrifices we make for our family. What a fun place to go to college.

When I was in college in Houston I cocktailed for a couple of years and always thought Manhattans were for old people until I had one. Since first tasting one it has been an old standby for me when I'm not in the mood for a V & T. Your photos are beautiful as usual.

All That I'm Eating says:

November 6, 2011 at 7:14 pm

I love the idea of homemade cherries! I like the pictures and I could just do with a Manhattan. I think a little involuntary flambe-ing is a good thing!

Cucina49 says:

November 6, 2011 at 7:46 pm

My husband is oddly addicted to Maraschino cherries–I will check out that recipe!

rosemarried says:

November 7, 2011 at 1:42 am

While I'n not a huge fan of Manhattans (I drank too much Jim beam in my younger years, it sort of ruined whiskey for me!), I adore maraschinos. I made my own this summer, and I could just eat them by the spoonful. For that very reason, I think I should give the ole Manhattan a try again. It is garnished with a maraschino after all, so I feel like I'm destined to like it.

Christine's Pantry says:

November 7, 2011 at 1:17 am

Looks good.

kita says:

November 7, 2011 at 7:58 pm

I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was little….

I've never had a manhatten, but it sounds like it could by my flavor of drink.

Cooking with Michele says:

November 8, 2011 at 2:52 pm

I made a huge mason jar of maraschino cherries last year, but then couldn't figure out what to really do with them – actually just threw most of them out recently. Mine were pretty “boozy” so not goof for just nibbling! Yours also look prettier – will try your recipe next time!

Jacob says:

November 8, 2011 at 6:40 pm

Dig your photos. I've made Marachino cherries before, but I cut the Marachino liqueur with some brandy for a little added kick. Thanks for posting, can't wait to try your Manhattan.

Kim Bee says:

November 17, 2011 at 3:07 am

I just came across this. I am so impressed by this one. I love maraschinos and had no idea I could make my own. Photos are fabulous!