Brooklyn

The Brooklyn cocktail is a timeless classic named after the New York City borough. It is a stirred, spirit-forward drink based on rye whiskey, balanced with dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and a distinctive bitter element from Amer Picon. This creates a complex profile that is herbaceous, subtly sweet, and pleasantly bitter, offering a more intricate alternative to the Manhattan. It is a perfect sipper for those who appreciate nuanced, historical cocktails.
Brooklyn

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Brooklyn is a classic, spirit-forward cocktail, categorized alongside other historic, stirred drinks. It is considered an aperitif, perfect for stimulating the appetite before a meal.

Serving

Served 'up' (without ice) in a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass, this is a potent, cold cocktail. The total volume is moderate, making for a perfect, concentrated sipper.
Serving size
Approximately 105 ml / 3.5 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 28-32% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

The Brooklyn first appeared in print in Jacob "Jack" Grohusko's 1908 book, "Jack's Manual." It is one of the five cocktails named after New York City's boroughs, alongside the Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island Ferry. For many years, it fell into obscurity, partly due to the difficulty of finding its key ingredient, Amer Picon, in the United States. Its revival in the modern craft cocktail era has returned it to its rightful place as a beloved classic.
Origin
United States, specifically New York City, circa 1908.

Brooklyn

The drink is consistently known by its original name, the Brooklyn. It does not have any widely recognized alternative names or monikers.
Original name
Brooklyn

Characteristics overview

The Brooklyn offers a complex flavor profile with rye spice and herbal notes, balanced by bitterness and a whisper of cherry sweetness. It has a smooth, silky texture and a long, warming finish, making it a sophisticated, year-round sipper.
Flavor
Rye spice, herbal, bitter orange, cherry, complex, dry
Aroma
Aromatic, whiskey, herbal botanicals, subtle cherry
Taste balance
Bitter, slightly sweet
Aftertaste
Long, warming, bitter, herbal
Fizziness
Still, none
Color appearance
Amber, reddish-brown, clear
Texture
Smooth, silky, spirituous
Seasonality
Year-round, warming

Flavor intensity & Experience

This is a strong, spirit-forward cocktail with a notable bitterness and rye spice, balanced by subtle fruit and sweetness. It is a still drink with no carbonation or creaminess.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This cocktail requires four key liquid ingredients: a spicy rye whiskey as the base, dry vermouth, Maraschino liqueur for a hint of funk and sweetness, and a bitter orange liqueur like Amer Picon or a suitable amaro substitute.
  • Rye Whiskey60 ml / 2 oz
    A good quality, spicy rye (e.g., 95-100 proof) works best to stand up to the other ingredients.
  • Dry Vermouth30 ml / 1 oz
    Use a fresh, quality bottle, as vermouth can oxidize and spoil.
  • Maraschino Liqueur7.5 ml / 0.25 oz
    A clear, dry liqueur made from Marasca cherries, not to be confused with the syrup from bright red maraschino cherries.
  • Amer Picon7.5 ml / 0.25 oz
    The original ingredient, which is difficult to find outside of France. Common substitutes include Amaro CioCiaro, Ramazzotti, or another orange-forward amaro.

Ice type

  • Cubed ice for stirring

Mixing equipments

You will need standard bar tools for a stirred cocktail: a mixing glass, a jigger for measuring, a bar spoon for stirring, and a strainer.
  • Mixing glass for combining and chilling the ingredients.
  • Jigger or measuring tool for accurate pours.
  • Bar spoon for stirring the cocktail.
  • Hawthorne or Julep strainer for pouring into the glass without ice.

Instructions

This cocktail is prepared by stirring all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass to achieve proper chill and dilution. It is then strained into a pre-chilled coupe glass and garnished before serving.
1. Chill your serving glass (a coupe or Nick & Nora) by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer for a few minutes.
2. Combine the rye whiskey, dry vermouth, Maraschino liqueur, and Amer Picon (or substitute) in a mixing glass.
3. Fill the mixing glass three-quarters full with cubed ice.
4. Stir briskly with a bar spoon for 20-30 seconds until the outside of the mixing glass is well-chilled and frosted.
5. If using a cherry garnish, place it in the bottom of your chilled serving glass. Discard the ice from the glass.
6. Strain the cocktail from the mixing glass into the prepared chilled glass.
7. If using a lemon twist, express the oils from the peel over the surface of the drink and drop it in or discard. Serve immediately.

Garnishing

A single, high-quality Maraschino cherry is the classic garnish. Alternatively, a lemon twist expressed over the drink adds a bright, citrusy aroma.
  • Maraschino cherry, placed in the bottom of the glass.
  • Lemon twist, expressed over the drink and dropped in or discarded.

Dietary Information

This cocktail is generally free from common allergens like caffeine, dairy, eggs, nuts, and soy, and is suitable for vegan and vegetarian diets. Whiskey is considered gluten-free after distillation, but those with severe sensitivity should be cautious.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This spirit-forward cocktail is moderately caloric, with most calories coming from the alcohol. It contains a relatively low amount of carbohydrates and sugar, primarily from the liqueurs.
Calories
Averagely 210-240 kcal / 880-1000 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 8-10 grams
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 6-8 grams
Sugar level

Occasions

The Brooklyn is an ideal aperitif, perfect for cocktail hour or as a sophisticated pre-dinner drink. Its complex character also makes it a great choice for quiet evenings or intimate gatherings with fellow cocktail enthusiasts.
  • Cocktail Hour
  • Pre-dinner Drink
  • Sophisticated Gatherings

Pairing suggestions

The Brooklyn pairs well with savory and salty appetizers that can stand up to its bold, spirituous character. Think charcuterie, hard cheeses, or simple bar snacks like olives and roasted nuts.
  • Salty nuts or olives
  • Charcuterie boards
  • Hard cheeses like aged cheddar or gouda

The Brooklyn: A Forgotten Borough Classic Reborn

The Brooklyn is a distinguished classic cocktail that offers a more complex, drier, and slightly bitter experience than its more famous relative, the Manhattan. Combining rye whiskey with dry vermouth, Maraschino liqueur, and the unique taste of Amer Picon, it is a connoisseur's drink. While its popularity was once hampered by ingredient scarcity, it has been rightfully resurrected by the modern cocktail movement. For those who enjoy a well-balanced, spirit-forward sipper with historical roots, the Brooklyn is an essential drink to try.

Similar Cocktails

Manhattan

Uses sweet vermouth and Angostura bitters instead of dry vermouth, maraschino, and Amer Picon. It is sweeter and spicier.

Red Hook

A modern variation from the 2000s, it keeps the rye and maraschino but substitutes Punt e Mes for the vermouth and amaro.

Greenpoint

Another modern classic, it uses rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Yellow Chartreuse, and bitters.

Martinez

A gin-based precursor to the Martini, it uses Old Tom Gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and bitters. Shares the maraschino element.

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