Historic Washington, DC Cocktails

Washington is well known for its politics (and also for its scandals!).
But there are also two cocktails with a DC hisory: the Gin Rickey and the Manhattan.

Shoemaker's was a Washington saloon in the late nineteenth century. It was known as a congressional hangout. Colonel Jim Rickey, a lobbyist, used to buy drinks there for members of congress. The bartender at Shoemaker's made a specific drink for Colonel Jim. He tasted it, liked it very much, and ordered another one (or perhaps several more). The bartender christened it the Gin Rickey, named after Colonel Rickey.
The recipe for the Gin Rickey:
in a highball glass full of ice, pour
2 oz. gin
4 oz. club soda
3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
lime wedge for garnish.

The Manhattan has a few different versions of where it originated. The Washington version has it that John Welby Henderson was a bartender for John A. Hopkins of Fairfax, Virginia. In April of 1846, Hopkins was wounded in a duel with Baron Henri de Vrie at Challono in Bladesburg, Maryland. Hopkins was rushed to Hotel Palo Alto where John Henderson was working. Henderson filled a glass with Maryland rye, some syrup, and some bitters, and gave it to John Hopkins. The Manhattan survived, but the survival, or demise, of John Hopkins is unknown. It is odd, however, that Hopkins was taken to a hotel, rather than a hospital. Perhaps bartenders back then were better than the doctors.

The New York version of the Manhattan has it created by a bartender at a banquet at the Manhattan Club in 1874. The banquet was organized by Jennie Churchill (mother of Winston), who threw a party for her father's friend, Samuel James Tilden. This was in honor of Tilden's electoral success for the governorship of New York.

Another New York version has it created by a Broadway saloonkeeper named Black. This comes from William Mullhall, a bartender in 1880's New York.

The recipe for the Manhattan:
in a large mixing glass with ice, pour
2 oz. bourbon or rye
1 oz. sweet vermouth
2 dashes of bitters
stir and strain into a chilled martini glass
garnish with a cherry

For a dry Manhattan, use 1 oz. dry vermouth, lemon twist garnish.
For a perfect Manhattan, use 1/2 oz. dry vermouth, 1/2 oz. sweet vermouth, garnish with a lemon twist or cherry, or both.

When you substitute scotch for bourbon or rye, it is called a Rob Roy.

Whichever version you believe, the Manhattan is the epitome of classic cocktails. When made properly and held up to light, it looks like a golden sunset.
Enjoy!