The Manhattan Deli
The Manhattan Deli Image by Liza Schoenfein
By Liza Schoenfein December 9, 2020
Our twist on the Manhattan is redolent of Jewish rye because we infuse the whiskey with caraway seeds. Garnished with cucumber and dill, this fragrant drink smells more than a little like Katz’s Deli.
For the caraway-infused rye:
(Quantities are per cocktail, but consider making a larger batch, increasing quantities accordingly.)
½ teaspoon caraway seeds, crushed 2 ounces rye whiskey
For the drink:
2 ounces caraway-infused rye whiskey
¾ ounce sweet vermouth
3-4 drops Angostura bitters
Cucumber spear, dill sprig, and cherry for garnish
-
To make the caraway-infused rye: 2–3 days in advance, crush caraway seeds with a mortar and pestle or the back of a wooden spoon and place in an empty tea sachet or a cheesecloth pouch. (You can also add straight to the rye and strain later.) Place in a glass jar with the rye and cover. Taste every 24 hours or so, and shake the jar gently now and then. Remove/strain out the caraway seeds when flavor is to your liking.
-
To make the cocktail: Combine rye and vermouth in a shaker or small pitcher filled with ice. Stir for about 30 seconds, then pour into a rocks glass over fresh ice, or serve straight up in a stemmed cocktail glass. Add bitters. Garnish with cucumber, dill, and a cherry.
Liza Schoenfein is a former food editor of the Forward and author of the blog Life, Death & Dinner. Follow her on Instagram @LifeDeathDinner
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30
