New York City Is the Inspiration Behind Some of the Most Iconic Cocktails — Which Is Your Favorite?

Manhattan

The Manhattan is not only the most famous New York City-inspired cocktail, but it’s also one of the world’s most popular whiskey cocktails. Though the simple combination of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters has been the template for endless variations, the classic recipe is more popular than ever. 

Brooklyn

This pre-Prohibition classic is a combination of spicy rye whiskey, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and a bittersweet French liqueur called Amer Picon. Since the liqueur is famously difficult to source in the U.S., substitutions such as Bigallet China-China Amaro, Amaro Ciociaro, or Ramazzotti are available with similar flavor profiles.

Red Hook

Created in 2003 by Italian bartender Vincenzo Errico while at the renowned cocktail bar Milk & Honey, the Red Hook is considered to be the first modern classic creation in the family of cocktails inspired by the Brooklyn, all named for neighborhoods in the NYC borough. A cross between a Manhattan and Brooklyn, this cocktail calls for rye whiskey, maraschino liqueur, and Punt e Mes, a uniquely bitter, sweet vermouth.

Newark

Though this drink is named for a New Jersey neighborhood, it was inspired by the Brooklyn cocktail. In 2007, Jim Meehan and John Deragon created the drink for the fall cocktail menu at PDT, the influential craft cocktail bar in New York City.

This modern riff swaps rye whiskey for overproof apple brandy — a nod to New Jersey’s own Laird’s Apple Brandy, dubbed “Jersey Lightning.” Dry vermouth is replaced with sweet vermouth, and the bitter amaro Fernet-Branca replaces the hard-to-find Amer Picon.

Adonis

This 19th-century classic aperitif was created in honor of a Broadway show of the same name, and combines equal parts sherry and sweet vermouth, with an orange peel garnish. Made with just two ingredients, the drink is surprisingly complex and layered. This recipe features a fino sherry, but amontillado or oloroso sherries could be substituted for a richer, and slightly sweeter variation.

Bushwick

This modern classic — another contemporary riff on the Brooklyn cocktail — was created in 2009 by bartender Phil Ward for the opening menu of his (now closed) New York City bar in the East Village called Mayahuel. Of all the creations in the family of cocktails modeled after the Brooklyn, the Bushwick hews closest to the original, combing rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and Amer Picon, a bittersweet French liqueur.

Algonquin

The Algonquin, said to be named after the historic Algonquin Hotel in New York City, is a post-Prohibition era cocktail combining just three ingredients: rye whiskey, dry vermouth, and pineapple juice. The fairly dry cocktail benefits from a higher proof rye whiskey and fresh pineapple juice, without added sugar.

Greenpoint

The Greenpoint is another Brooklyn-inspired variation created in 2006 by bartender Michael McIlroy while at New York City’s Milk & Honey. The spirit-forward, modern classic is composed of rye whiskey, Yellow Chartreuse, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters, and orange bitters.