Laura's Mad-hattan

The Manhattan cocktail has been around since the 1860s. My take on it has evolved over the years. Since moving to Hawaii, I have replaced the sweet Vermouth with Falernum (refer to the cocktails page); the clove in this simple syrup pairs superbly with the spiced rim (my own spin) and bourbon and gives our favorite drink a new tiki allure! One note worth mentioning is that the Maraschino Cherry has no pit and sinks when dropped into the cocktail; conversely, the Surinam cherry has a seed and floats. However, part way through the drink, the Surinam Cherry will fall to the bottom. When that happens, you know your cherry is drunken so pop it in your mouth, take a sip of the cocktail, and enjoy!

WARNING: this drink packs quite a punch! That's why I limit myself to only 2. However, that amount may be too strong for some people...like Monika, who woke up in the middle of the night to discover she was wearing her pajama top as bottoms!! Good thing she is a good sport and let me write this!

Ingredients

• 2 shots Bourbon

• 1 jigger Falernum (get it on Amazon)

• 1/4 of a fresh orange juice & orange peel

• 2-3 dashes of orange bitters

• 1/2 capfull of Campari (optional - the added bitterness balances out the sweetness)

• Pumpkin Pie Spice (rim)

• 1 frozen Surinam Cherry - You can use Maraschino or Bing Cherry

• 1/2 capful of Surinam Cherry Juice or Drapers Cherry Liqueur (optional)

Instructions

Prepare your martini glass by rubbing the piece of orange on the rim then dipping in Pumpkin Pie Spice; you can also use Allspice, Nutmeg or Cinnamon. I chose to leave out sugar (a common rim ingredient) as there is enough sugar in the drink already but you can add for more sweetness.

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice filled to the top and shake for at least 30 seconds or more. My shaker is metal so I shake until it gets frosted. Pour all ingredients in the glass then add orange peel and the cherry. I like to use Monika's fresh Surinam cherries. I pop them in the freezer and they keep the cocktail cold. When the drink is done, you have a little fruit bite (remember the seed)! For a last option, slowly pour a 1/2 capful of Drapers Cheery Liqueur so it sinks to the bottom. Besides adding a nice red color to the bottom of the drink, when you get to the end of your spirit, it’s another little tasty treat!

Note: If you like your cocktails sweeter, you can add some extra orange juice (or any fresh or bought tropical juice) or pour in a little Maraschino Cherry juice.