Long Day Manhattans

Our branding days are long. Brian likes to say that when we brand, he’s always looking for a specific cow all day - the last one. At the end, we usually reward ourselves with a well-earned cocktail. Although my favorite is a sidecar, made with bourbon and Meyer lemons, it’s something that has to be made fresh - and honestly, by the end of branding day, I want to drink a cocktail, not make one, before I even think about starting dinner. That’s why I stir up these Manhattans a day or two ahead, going down into our root cellar for a bottle of the really good scotch that gives them just a hint of smokiness. Left in the fridge for a few days, the flavors have time to meld and mellow, which makes for an even better drink, in my opinion. And the cowboys helping with branding love them.

Long Day Manhattans

Page 252 of my Five Marys Family Style Cookbook!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups good bourbon

• 3/4 cup high-quality sweet vermouth, such as Carpano Antica

• 1 tablespoon high-quality aged scotch whiskey (such as Lagavulin or Laphroaig)

• 1 1/2 teaspoons orange bitters

• 6 cocktail cherries

INSTRUCTIONS

Makes 6 cocktails

Combine the bourbon, vermouth, whiskey, and bitters in a large mason jar and stir well. You can refrigerate the mixture for up to a month.

Shake about a third of the mixture at a time over ice in a cocktail shaker, to make two drinks at a time, or shake one drink at a time in a pint-sized mason jar filled with ice.

Pour about 1/2 cup into each cocktail tumbler over fresh ice, or into martini or coup glasses, if preferred. Garnish each drink with a cherry.