Brooklyn Cocktail

The Brooklyn Cocktail has a bitter, complex, herbal, citrusy flavor profile. A sophisticated Manhattan variation that swaps sweet vermouth for dry and adds maraschino liqueur and Amer Picon. This pre-Prohibition classic offers complex bitter-sweet notes with a distinctly New York character.

A Brooklyn Cocktail requires 5 ingredients: Rye Whiskey, Dry Vermouth, Maraschino Liqueur, Amer Picon, Orange Peel.

A Brooklyn Cocktail takes about 3 minutes to prepare and is considered medium difficulty.

A Brooklyn Cocktail is traditionally served in a coupe, garnished with orange peel (expressed and discarded).

Yes, you can make a mocktail version of the Brooklyn Cocktail by substituting the spirits with non-alcoholic alternatives such as seedlip, non-alcoholic distilled spirits, or flavored syrups and juices that mimic the original flavor profile.

The Brooklyn Cocktail first appeared in Jacob Grohusko's 'Jack's Manual' in 1908, during the golden age of American cocktail culture. Named after New York's most populous borough, this drink was created as a variation on the Manhattan, reflecting Brooklyn's desire to establish its own identity separate from Manhattan's shadow. The original recipe called for Amer Picon, a French bitter orange liqueur that was readily available in American bars before Prohibition. When Amer Picon became difficult to source in the U.S., the cocktail nearly vanished from bar menus. The Brooklyn experienced a revival during the craft cocktail renaissance of the 2000s, with bartenders using substitutes like Ramazzotti or a combination of Cynar and orange liqueur to recreate the original's distinctive bitter-sweet profile. Today, it stands as a testament to the sophisticated drinking culture of early 20th century America.