Today we take you back in time to Saratoga Springs New York circa 1887. It was a time when the town was a tourist haven with hot springs, gambling and nightlife. The Saratoga Cocktail was first penned by Professor Jerry Thomas and is a simple take on the Manhattan that uses a clever combination of Brandy and Whiskey (Rye) to build a more complex foundation. We toyed with this idea a few months ago with the Suburban Cocktail which blended Rum and Rye and have since been tinkering with the concept of combining two (or more) base spirits finding some very pleasant results. Below we offer you the Jerry Thomas recipe and urge you to play with ingredients until you find a combination that is appealing to your personal tastes. While we have listed our favorites this is really a drink that you can personalize by selecting your preferred brands of whiskey and brandy, then adjusting the measures to taste. Cheers!
Saratoga Cocktail
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add:
- 1 Ounce Brandy* (we used Pierre Ferrand Amber Cognac)
- 1 Ounce Whiskey* (we used Sazarac Rye)
- 1 Ounce Sweet Vermouth (Carpano Antica Formula)
- 2 Dashes Bitters (Angostura)
Stir to chill ingredients ~ strain into a chilled cocktail saucer. Garnish with a twist of lemon.
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