Sunday, December 5, 2010

Manhattan

Posted by Erin Wilburn / 7 comments » / alcohol, drinks, Nashville

While I do want to share with you this cocktail recipe, and also tell you about an awesome local liquor, I mainly want to say “I GOT A NEW LENS AND I LOVE IT!!!”  *Swoon*  This bad boy came in the mail a day earlier than I expected.  We’d just returned from running errands, and I said “I’m gonna make a cocktail.”  The Boy went out to check the mail and came back with saying “Oh, looks like you got a package.”  Of course I immediately ripped into it.  The very next thing I did was  make this cocktail!  After all, I needed a subject to photograph.  Luckily there was just enough light left in the day to snap a few shots.  Although, I’m pretty sure my neighbors across the street think I’m a bit of a weirdo for photographing a cocktail.  I guess that’s a sight they’ll get used to, with a food blogger living across the street!  😉

Now, about the lens.  It’s a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens, and it’s incredibly affordable!  I’m seriously kicking myself over not purchasing it sooner.  While the lens that I bought with my camera body is a great all-purpose lens, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6, it doesn’t allow me to shoot as well in low-light situations.  While I used to be limited to an f5.6, now I can go all the way to f1.8.  Having access to a much larger aperture also increases my depth of field, which makes shooting something like a martini glass a LOT of fun!  This is a great lens for food, and also for people.

Ok, enough about the lens, let’s get on with the cocktail!  This is a standard, traditional recipe for a Manhattan.  If you’ve ever been out for drinks with me, you’d know I don’t like the typical girlie drinks.  I like my drinks strong, not sweet.  If it’s sweet, I’ll suck it down too fast like Kool-Aid.  But if it’s strong, I can linger with it, and sip it slowly.  Another thing you’d know if you went out for cocktails with me (or perhaps if you’d just read a recent blog post of mine), is I like bourbon!  Not too long ago I was at the Corsair Artisan Distillery.  They are a local company based in both Bowling Green, KY (where I went to college), and in Nashville.  I got to sample all the different spirits they sell, and one that I was most excited about was their Pumpkin Spice Moonshine.  They say it’s great in a Manhattan, so by-golly that’s the first thing I wanted to do with it!  If you were wondering why my Manhattan was a bit lighter in color than your typical one made with bourbon or whiskey, it’s because Corsair’s Pumpkin Spice Moonshine is clear.  The pumpkin spice flavor is really really subtle in this Manhattan.  It’s definitely got the kick of a strong bourbon.  YUM YUM!

Of course, you don’t need Corsair’s Pumpkin Spice Moonshine to make this Manhattan.  I’ve made one plenty times before with our typical house bourbon, Bulleit.  Which brings me to mention, Midtown Wine & Spirits is hosting a bottle signing this Monday, Dec 6th with Tom Bulleit from 2pm-3pm.  I’m very happy The Boy & I are both off work, because we’ll definitely be there!

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Manhattan

from Epicurious
serves 2

Ingredients:

4 1/2 ounces rye or bourbon whiskey
1 1/2 ounces sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 Maraschino cherries

Directions:

Fill a pitcher with ice and add the whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Stir vigorously until the outside of the pitcher is thoroughly beaded with sweat and is extremely cold to the touch.
Place a maraschino cherry in each cocktail glass. Strain the drink over the cherries and serve immediately.