Drinks

Monte Carlo

April 24, 2015 by Jennifer

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Since I just finished giving you a tour of Kentucky, I thought I’d bring you a cocktail that’s made with rye. I know that Kentucky is the bourbon capital of the world, but plenty of the distilleries also make rye: Woodford, Bulleit, Wild Turkey… they all have rye.

Rye may not be bourbon, but they’re closely related. While bourbon needs to be made with at least 51% corn, rye needs to be made with 51% rye. It’s then combined with other grains and placed into new charred oak barrels, just like bourbon. But unlike bourbon which is usually a sweeter, richer alcohol, rye tends to be on the drier, spicier side.  What’s all this have to do with today’s cocktail?

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Well, the Monte Carlo is really just a Manhattan made with rye and Benedictine instead of bourbon and sweet vermouth. So, if you find the Manhattan not to your liking, give the Monte Carlo a try. It’s definitely sweeter thanks to the Benedictine which is a sweeter, herbal alcohol. When mixed with the rye it adds quite a nice flavor. I myself am not a huge fan of the Manhattan – they’re just too strong for me – but when I sipped the Monte Carlo, I fell in love.

In case you’re thinking the Monte Carlo is just another new twist on a classic like the Basil Lemondrop of the Pomegranate Margarita, I’m here to tell you it’s legitimate. I mean, it wouldn’t be part of my classic cocktails if it weren’t. The Monte Carlo can be found in David Embury’s The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks from 1948. But just because it was published in 1948 doesn’t necessarily mean it was created in 1948. In fact, odds are the cocktail was created long before that, though I couldn’t tell you when or by whom.

So, the next time you’re thinking of drinking a newfangled twist on a classic, why not enjoy a classic twist instead. Trust me, you’ll definitely be more satisfied.

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Monte Carlo

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. rye
  • 3/4 oz. Benedictine
  • 2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
  • Maraschino cherry

Directions:

  1. Pour the rye, Benedictine and bitters in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously for at least a minute. Strain into a cocktail glass, add the cherry and serve.