A spicy cross between the Brooklyn and Manhattan cocktails, the Red Hook takes a rye whiskey base and dials it up with sweet vermouth and cherry liqueur. And though the Manhattan cocktail is thought to date back to the 1800s, the Red Hook is a much more recent invention, attributed to NYC bartender Enzo Errico around 2003/04. He continued a tradition of riffing off the Manhattan to make cocktails named for New York neighbourhoods, with the Red Hook once being a rough, industrial area in west Brooklyn. Errico's creation has proven to be one of the more successful takes and is enjoyed not only throughout the city, but also across the world.
As a cocktail, the Red Hook's appeal is obvious. The rye whiskey brings a nice, spicy bite, which is mellowed out by the sweet vermouth and cherry liqueur. It's a contemporary classic and a great choice for the end of the night, whether you're sipping one while tucked away in the corner of a dark bar, or mixing one for your friends at home. And thanks to this recipe, it's all too easy to do the latter.
