What with all the rye whisky gracing LCBO shelves, it’s about time to Remember the Maine. This stiff and sweet Manhattan variation is named for the USS Maine battleship that went down in Havana harbour in 1898, indirectly sparking the Spanish-American War. The recipe was first published in Charles H. Baker’s The Gentleman’s Companion (1939), where the author advises: “Treat this one with the respect it deserves, gentlemen,” a warning that certainly extends to the whisky-loving ladies of the world.
- 2 oz Lot No. 40 rye whisky
- ¾ oz sweet vermouth (bittersweet Punt e Mes is nice, but Cinzano will do)
- ¼ oz Cherry Heering
- half bar spoon absinthe (or absinthe substitute)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters (optional, but fitting)
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice and stir well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry.