What ingredients are in a Brooklyn?

2 oz Rye Whiskey, 1 oz Dry Vermouth, 1/4 oz maraschino liqueur, 3 dashes Angostura Bitters, 1 Maraschino cherry

What glass do you use for a Brooklyn?

A Brooklyn is traditionally served in a Cocktail glass.

How strong is a Brooklyn?

A Brooklyn has an estimated ABV of 20.04%.

How many calories are in a Brooklyn?

A Brooklyn contains approximately 262 calories per serving.

What are the ingredients in a Brooklyn cocktail?

The Brooklyn is a spirit-forward Manhattan-family cocktail made with rye whiskey, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and Amer Picon or a substitute such as Ramazzotti amaro. The IBA recipe specifies 4.5 cl rye, 1.5 cl dry vermouth, 1 tsp maraschino, and 1 tsp Amer Picon. The amaro substitution is common because Amer Picon is difficult to source outside Europe.

How is the Brooklyn cocktail served and garnished?

The Brooklyn is stirred with ice until thoroughly diluted and cold, then strained into a chilled cocktail glass. It is garnished with a maraschino cherry, which echoes the maraschino liqueur in the recipe. Like its Manhattan cousins — the Manhattan, Bronx, and Queens — it is a spirit-forward, aromatic drink intended for sipping.

How does the Brooklyn differ from the Manhattan?

While both are rye-whiskey cocktails, the Brooklyn substitutes dry vermouth for sweet vermouth and adds maraschino liqueur and Amer Picon, giving it a drier, more bitter-orange character than the sweeter Manhattan. The Brooklyn also shares kinship with the Rob Roy (which uses Scotch), reflecting the 'New York boroughs' cocktail family popular in the early 20th century. It was documented in Jacob Grohusko's 1908 'Jack's Manual.'

The Brooklyn is a classic rye whiskey cocktail in the Manhattan family, made with rye whiskey, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and Angostura bitters, garnished with a maraschino cherry. The spicy character of rye forms the base, balanced against the herbal dryness of dry vermouth, while the maraschino adds a distinctive almond-cherry note and the bitters provide depth. The flavor is complex, dry, and spirit-forward. At approximately 20.04% ABV, it is a strong, stirred short drink. The Brooklyn is built by combining the ingredients with ice, stirring until well-chilled, and straining into a chilled cocktail glass. Distinct from the Manhattan, which uses sweet vermouth, the Brooklyn is drier and more complex, and is counted among the boroughs of New York's namesake cocktails.

Brooklyn

Glass Cocktail glass

Difficulty Medium

Calories ~262 kcal

ABV 20.04%

Ingredients

Instructions

Combine ingredients with ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Alcoholic Sweet DateNight USA

Brooklyn is a Rye Whiskey cocktail in the Manhattan family that combines the spicy character of rye with dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and Angostura Bitters, garnished with a cherry. At 20.04% ABV, it is a complex, stirred cocktail that balances the assertive spice of rye against the herbal dryness of dry vermouth, with maraschino adding a distinctive almond-cherry note. Distinct from a Manhattan, which uses sweet vermouth, the Brooklyn is drier and more complex.

History & Origins

Brooklyn was first documented in 1908 in Jacob Abraham Grohusko's Jack's Manual, named after the New York City borough known at the time for its rye whiskey production. The cocktail fell from fashion for much of the 20th century due to the scarcity of dry vermouth in the US and the near-disappearance of rye whiskey, but was revived with enthusiasm during the cocktail renaissance of the 2000s. Its association with Brooklyn's independent identity and craft sensibility made it a natural fit for the borough's modern bar culture.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Spicy rye grain and dried fruit, with herbal dry vermouth and the subtle cherry-almond of maraschino, lifted by Angostura's complex spice. Palate: Dry and spirit-forward; the rye's spice dominates, softened by the herbal vermouth and the sweet-nutty maraschino, with bitters adding layers of cinnamon, clove, and dried fruit. Finish: Long, dry, and pleasantly bitter.

spicy dry cherry herbal complex

Pro Tip

Stir for a full 45 seconds over large ice to achieve proper dilution without losing the drink's intensity, and use a good-quality rye whiskey for best results.

Techniques Used

Stirring

Nutrition Facts →

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