Bicycle Thief

1 1⁄2 oz Rye, Rittenhouse 100
1⁄2 oz Bonal Gentiane Quina
1⁄2 oz Cynar
1⁄2 oz Aromatized wine, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
1 twst Orange peel (expressed and discarded)
Instructions

Stir, strain, neat, twist.

Notes

Curator's note: Balance can be improved with 2 : 1/3 : 1/3 : 1/3.

Cocktail summary
Created by
California Gold, Blue Room, Cambridge, MA.
Year
2012
Is an
authentic recipe
Reference

http://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2012/11/bicycle-thief.html

Curator
5 stars
Average
4 stars
(28 ratings)
YieldsDrink
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From other users
  • Creative use of two amari in this cocktail combine in ways I would not have imagined. Just right, as is, no adjustments. My favorite whiskey cocktail!
  • Kinda good. Kinda sweet. Not deeply remarkable.
  • Easy-drinkin' nice sweet-ish wintry drink.
  • A richly complex Manhattan variant. — ★★★★★
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Comments

Curator's 5-star rating is predicated on the leaner 2 spirit to 1 modifer format.

My wife and I both like this with the original proportions. Changing to 2 oz Rittenhouse (100 proof) shifts toward rye heat unless there is substantial ice dilution, so it depends on how much bite one prefers and/or how wet the mixing ice is. 2 oz would be a better choice for those using 80 proof ryes though. The Cocchi/Bonal/Cynar combo is a good one that is also used in NoMad's Broadway (only 1 oz rye, and with a barspoon of Luxardo marachino liqueur.)

I have been wondering if this version of the drink appeared before the "Bicycle Thief" using gin/Campari/red grapefruit juice. That one is courtesy of Dutch Kills in New York, which opened in 2009, but I don't know if it was one of their early cocktails. Anyone have more info on the relative timing of the two drinks?