Jerry Thomas was the godfather of the American cocktail, and was often referred to as The Professor. He owned and opened many saloons in New York, and wrote the very first cocktail recipe book, How to Mix Drinks or The Bon-Vivant’s Companion. This excellent drink is one of his most famous creations. It’s an update on the original, and suits Joe Allen’s ethics of sticking to the classics but making the best version of them that we can.
Jerry Thomas manhattan
Serves 1
50ml rye whiskey – Wild Turkey, Canadian Club or Knob Creek
15ml Grand Marnier
25ml good red vermouth – I use Carpano Antica Formula
3 dashes bitters, such as Angostura
1 strip orange peel, to garnish
Pour the rye, Grand Marnier, vermouth and bitters into a boston glass or jug. Add ice, stir, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Hold the orange peel pith side up about 5cm above a lit match, squeeze it over the flame until the peel sparks, then drop into the glass and serve.
