Monte Carlo
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway full with ice. Add the rye whiskey, Benedictine and bitters. Shake well for at least 30 seconds, then strain into a cocktail (martini) glass. Garnish with a cherry.
This is a variation on the Manhattan, with Benedictine standing in for vermouth and Peychaud's bitters for Angostura bitters. Rye whiskey is significantly different from bourbon; it's spicier and funkier, and it mingles well with different liqueurs and bitters.
Be sure to use a higher-proof rye, such as Rittenhouse Rye (100 proof) or Wild Turkey 101.
- Stir, don't shake. Might decrease benedictine to 1/2.
- DOM adds a but of a sweet honey. Made with Woodford Reserve. Smoother than Rittenhouse. Very nice drink. Used home made Fig bitters.
- Made it stirred instead of shaken, using barrel-proof Canadian rye. The rye balanced out the sweetness of the benedictine well.
- Muito doce com Wild Turkey 101
- a delicious cobination of vanilla vodka, chambord, and pinapple juice, shaken to perfection
- Cocktail de la Louisiane (Sam Ross) — Rye, Cognac, Bénédictine, Peychaud's Bitters, Absinthe, Lemon peel
- Kentucky Colonel — Bourbon, Bénédictine, Orange bitters
- The Wry Monk — Rye, Herbal liqueur, Bénédictine, Peychaud's Bitters
- Last Caress — Rye, Bénédictine, Mezcal, Maraschino Liqueur, Bitters, Lemon peel
- It's Not Personal — Bourbon, Bénédictine, Nocino, Bitters
One of my favorites. Note that this cocktail seems to have originated in David Embury’s The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks (1948), though he calls for a bit less rye and for Ango instead of Peychaud's. The "created by" on this page refers to the columnist for this particular incarnation.