Wright & Company’s The House Manhattan
Replacing one portion of vermouth with Cynar for an herbaceous twist
While a well-made Manhattan cocktail needs no modification, we’ve had our fair share of inspired spin-offs that provide a modern edge and an altogether pleasant diversion. On a recent trip to Detroit, we swung by Dave Kwiatkowski’s Wright & Company (Kwiatkowski also happens to own Detroit’s celebrated cocktail venue The Sugar House)—located on the second floor of 1500 Woodward, a Queen Anne-style brick commercial building brimming with history and fine food. There we imbibed The House Manhattan and it defied our expectations. The House Manhattan is a riff on the Perfect Manhattan, but rather than utilize equal parts sweet and dry vermouth, it employs Cynar. The result is highly herbaceous and seasonally appropriate—not to mention tasty. Wright & Company shared the recipe with us, but it’s definitely a drink worth trying at their establishment when in Detroit.
The House Manhattan
1.5 oz. Rittenhouse Rye
.75 oz. Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
.5 oz. Cynar
Two dashes Angostura Bitters
Two dashes Luxardo Maraschino
Stir over ice, strain up and garnish with a cucumber slice.
Image courtesy of Wright & Company
