Rum Manhattan

Most of the Rum Manhattan recipes that I read make a cloyingly sweet drink.  This Rum Manhattan I crafted I hope you will find is amazingly complex. We used Don Q Vermouth Cask Aged Rum, but any Rum that you enjoy neat will do as well, (maybe better to your taste buds!)  This is  2:1 Spirit:Vermouth.  We split the Vermouth between the rich and complex Cocchi Vermouth di Torino with coffee infused Punt e Mes.  I got the idea of infusing Punt e Mes with coffee from our friends at Dorćol Distilling and Brewing.  They use it to create a Manhattan riff with their apricot rakia.  Based upon the coffee you choose, the maceration time, how you crack the coffee beans, and probably the phase of the moon, the bitterness of the final infusion will vary.  This is why we added the demerara syrup.

The nose of this cocktail is a touch sweet with fruit, spice and smokiness.  The flavors are soft rum with fruit, coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, subtle bitterness, and warm Holiday spice.  The finish is chocolate, fruit, and spicy, bitter sweetness.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Good Sipping Rum
• 1/2 oz. Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
• 1/2 oz. Coffee Infused Punt e Mes (see below)
• 1 Bar Spoon Grand Marnier
• 1 – 2 dashes 1:1 Demerara Syrup to taste
• Brandied Cherry for garnish
• Orange peel for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a cocktail glass with ice and water
2. Combine all ingredients, except the garnishes, in a mixing glass with ice and stir to combine and chill
3. Double strain into chilled cocktail glass
4. Add the cherry, express the orange peel over the drink and float the peel

Coffee Infused Punt e Mes

This will vary based on your choice of coffee.  I suggest you try it first with 250ml.

• 250 ml Punt e Mes
• 30 gm cracked whole coffee beans

1. Combine Punt e Mes and coffee in a lidded jar.  Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, shaking a few times.
2. Double strain and enjoy.

Cheers!