Brooklyn Cocktail: Pre-Prohibition Gem
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Brooklyn isn’t just the most populated borough in New York City. It’s also a pre-Prohibition cocktail that sips like a dream. When you follow this easy Brooklyn cocktail recipe, you’ll forget about the other four boroughs before you get to the bottom of the glass.
Brooklyn is no longer under the shadow of Manhattan. Rents have soared on the other side of the East River and for good reason. NYC’s most populated borough is rich with history, culture and cuisine. Plus, New York City’s biggest borough is home to some of the city’s best bagel shops, bakeries and pizzerias.
Alas, the same can’t be said about the Brooklyn cocktail. While bartenders around the world serve more than a few Manhattans to thirsty drinkers, many mixologists don’t bother with the Brooklyn. The potent potable named after the ‘other’ borough just isn’t that popular.
Since we’ve seen more than a few Brooklyn wannabes in cities as diverse as Bucharest, Helsinki and Lisbon during our travels, we won’t be surprised when and if this status changes. Maybe Brooklyn (the cocktail) needs a better PR rep.
Fun Fact
Brooklyn and Manhattan aren’t the only NYC boroughs with signature cocktails. The Bronx and Queens have them too. Sorry Staten Island!
What Is a Brooklyn Cocktail?
The Brooklyn is a pre-Prohibition cocktail crafted with rye whiskey, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur and amaro. It’s also a strong cocktail with not even one mixer in its ingredient list.
Yes, this tasty tipple will knock your socks off if you drink too many. Luckily, it’s the kind of drink best enjoyed slowly, one sip at a time.
Discover more pre-Prohibition cocktails.
History of the Brooklyn Cocktail
Despite its relative anonymity, the Brooklyn cocktail is no neophyte.
While history is fuzzy as to its exact origin, The Brooklyn cocktail dates back to at least 1908. That’s the year that Jacob Grohusko, a Manhattan bartender, made the drink famous by including the cocktail’s recipe in his original Jack’s Manual.
The Brooklyn’s fame was solidified when Harry Craddock included the same recipe in the iconic book, The Savoy Cocktail, 22 years later. However, the Brooklyn fell out of favor for a while.
Recently, however, we’ve noticed the Brooklyn popping up on bar menus both in New York City and beyond. Perhaps the centenarian cocktail’s history is yet to fully unfold.
Ingredients
We’ll be impressed if you have all of the following Brooklyn ingredients on hand:
Ingredient quantities are detailed in the printable recipe card below.
How to Craft a Brooklyn Cocktail
The first step in our Brooklyn recipe is to measure the four liquors. We use a Japanese jigger in this and other cocktail recipes to ensure accurate measurements and clean pours.
Buy a Japanese jigger from Amazon if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.
Pour the liquors directly into a mixing glass after you measure each.
Add a handful of ice and stir until the ingredients are combined and chilled. This step should take 20 to 30 seconds.
Strain the cocktail into a coupe glass.
Pro Tip
While you could technically use a different type of glass, a coupe glass works best in this recipe.
Garnish with a maraschino cherry or two.
You’ll want to start sipping right away while the cocktail is still chilled by the ice. However, don’t rush to the bottom of the glass. In our opinion, the cocktail improves as it warms to room temperature.
Variations
While you have to travel to New York to decide if Brooklyn is your favorite borough, you can make your decision about the Brooklyn cocktail at home. If you’re not enamored with its taste, craft one of the following classic cocktails instead:
Discover 10 essential bar tools for the home mixologist.
Brooklyn Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rye whiskey
- 1 ounce vermouth (dry)
- ¼ ounce maraschino liqueur
- ¼ ounce amaro
- 1 or 2 maraschino cherry (garnish)
- ice cubes (for shaking)
Instructions
- Pour liquids into a mixing glass.
- Add several ice cubes and stir until liquids are mixed and chilled.
- Strain into a coupe glass.
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry or two.
Notes
- You can replace the amaro with a few drops of Angostura bitters.
Nutrition
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
The Brooklyn cocktail is pre-Prohibition cocktail crafted with rye whiskey, dry vermouth, amaro and maraschino liqueur.
Rye Whiskey, Dry Vermouth, Amaro, Maraschino Liqueur, Ice (for stirring) and Maraschino Cherries (garnish)
We recommend using your favorite rye whiskey when you craft a Brooklyn cocktail at home.
The Brooklyn cocktail is stirred, not shaken.
We like to use coupe glasses when we craft Brooklyn cocktails and you should do the same.
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