Colonel Carpano

Reverse Cynar Manhattan of sorts
1 1⁄2 oz Cynar
1 1⁄2 oz Bourbon, Buffalo Trace
3⁄4 oz Sweet vermouth, Carpano Antica Formula
2 ds Peychaud's Bitters
1 twst Orange peel
Instructions
Combine in a mixing glass then add large ice cubes. Stir then strain over large ice. Garnish with an orange peel expressed and inserted.
Notes
A very long flavor ride from sweet to spicy to bitter and back.
Like/dislike
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From other users
  • Absolutely delicious. The small amount of CAF is apparent. Nice lingering bitter. Made with Knob Creek. — ☆☆☆☆☆
  • Didn't have orange, but that would add a nice element. Used punt e mes, delicious. — ☆☆☆☆
  • Excellent and will try upping the Antica next time — ☆☆☆☆
  • Excellent Manhattan sub. Cynar adds welcome bitter undertones. A real Friday unwinding drink. — ☆☆☆☆
  • As was said, good Manhattan alternative. — ☆☆☆☆
  • Bitter
  • As suggested by someone here, tried it with Ramazzotti and like it. Next time I'll bump the bourbon up in the mix (just a tad sweeter than I like it). I'll also try it with Rye. — ☆☆☆☆
  • 12/27/16: Really, really good. I prefer this to a manhattan. — ☆☆☆☆☆
  • Made with Cynar 70. As one does. An excellent alternative to a Manhattan. — ☆☆☆☆
  • Delicious!! I used perucchi sweet vermouth. — ☆☆☆☆
  • I find this a tad too bitter...but it tastes better as the ice melts! — ☆☆☆
  • Good bourbon/cynar rich/warm slightly bitter drink. Used Bitter Truth Creole Bitters + Peychaud's — ☆☆☆☆
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13 Comments

Absolutely delicous

Submitted by on

I made it with Knob Creek. The Carpano Antica was readily apparent. Not overly sweet. A Manhattan for the adventurous. Beautiful lingering bitter tones in the finish.

Zachary Pearson's picture

Fantastic drink

Submitted by on

Had the guys at Anvil make this for me, subbing Rittenhouse 100 for Bourbon and Zucca Amaro (rhubarb based) for Cynar... It was all bitter chocolate and wintry spice and enough citrus for balance. Really really good, and makes me want a bottle of Cynar ;)

Ooh, ooh, just got a bottle

Submitted by on

Ooh, ooh, just got a bottle of Zucca. Good stuff. I've added it as an ingredient in Kindred Cocktails. And, yes, you do want a bottle of Cynar.

Curated to spell out Colonel

Submitted by on

Curated to spell out Colonel in the title to make it easier to find. Old URL's to cocktail/col-carpano will still work.

Seconded. This is the best

Submitted by on

Seconded. This is the best cocktail of the ones I've tried on this site so far, a lovely mix of two things I love (Cynar and Manhattans!). A new favorite.

Definitely a good one for

Submitted by on

Definitely a good one for slowly sipping and appreciating. Maybe a touch on the sweet side for my palette, so may have to adjust the Cynar and Antica formula down a touch. Flavor combination is brilliant and lends itself well to experimentation with bitters and garnish.

Yeah, I don't know why I had

Submitted by on

Yeah, I don't know why I had to ask. It was awesome with Punt e Mes. Less "chocolatey" than the original, but still outstanding.

The "Colonel Carpano" is one

Submitted by on

The "Colonel Carpano" is one of these easy to imbibe drinks. Bourbon and Cynar is a common mix; more often than not, however, the recipe will call for a bourbon with more overtones than Buffalo Trace. But that, I think, is the strength of the "Colonel Carpano," Using Buffalo Trace instead of, say, Jim Beam Black, results in a democratic drink--that is to say, a drink in which no one ingredient overwhelms the other. I used the ingredients as called for, except I used 3 dashes of The Bitter Truth's Aromatic Bitters, instead of 2 dashes of Peychaud's bitters, with good result.

Overall, the "Colonel Carpano" is an enjoyable drink, which goes down easily despite its slight bitterness via Cynar. Most drinkers who do not like the much more bitter Negroni, will find the Colonel Carpano to be a favorite. This drink also lends itself to different options; (e.g., a stronger bourbon, perhaps a rye, using a different bitter, and using a different vermouth such as punt e mes.) I rated this drink at 4.5.

mojo1229

The "Colonel Carpano" is one

Submitted by on

The "Colonel Carpano" is one of these easy to imbibe drinks. Bourbon and Cynar is a common mix; more often than not, however, the recipe will call for a bourbon with more overtones than Buffalo Trace. But that, I think, is the strength of the "Colonel Carpano," Using Buffalo Trace instead of, say, Jim Beam Black, results in a democratic drink--that is to say, a drink in which no one ingredient overwhelms the other. I used the ingredients as called for, except I used 3 dashes of The Bitter Truth's Aromatic Bitters, instead of Peychaud's bitters, a with good result. Overall, the "Colonel Carpano" is an enjoyable drink, which goes down easily despite its slight bitterness via Cynar. Most drinkers who do not like the much more bitter Negroni, will find the Colonel Carpano to be a favorite. This drink also lends itself to different options; (e.g., a stronger bourbon, perhaps a rye, using a different bitter, and using a different vermouth such as punt e mes.) I rated this drink at 4.5.

mojo1229