Your decision-making when it comes to your wardrobe might be a hot mess right now — is it cold? Is it warm? Do you need a hat? Is this jacket too heavy? Too light? Is it too early for cotton? If you find yourself donning a confused shambles of get-ups just to get through the up-and-down spring temps, you’re in good mismatched company. But in your glass? It’s prime time, baby!
What’s wonderful about this time of year is everything feels right — a heavy red or a cheery rosé; a crisp white or one with some gravity and body. A smoky mezcal or a light silver tequila. A brooding, intriguing Armagnac or a sprightly brandy-based Sidecar. While spring might be a super confusing time for getting dressed, it’s sky’s-the-limit for grown-up beverages.
Two classic cocktails that skew toward both cooler temps and Rat Pack coolness — the Manhattan and the Rusty Nail — aren’t just thoroughly apropos still, but at Fresno, they make for a bit of a giddy mash-up in their Wall Street Manhattan, which employs classic Manhattan rye whiskey (in this instance, one of our faves: Michter’s) and sweet vermouth, along with the Rusty Nail’s calling card, Drambuie, a Scotch whisky-based honey liqueur. Add to that a duo of bitters — earthy walnut and bright, fragrant orange — all served over a nice hunky cube of ice, and you’ve got a whiskey drink that’ll take you from now to Memorial Day (and, honestly, beyond), no matter what you’re wearing.
Fresno’s Wall Street Manhattan
Ingredients
- 2 oz Michter's Rye
- 1/4 oz sweet vermouth
- 1/2 oz Drambuie
- 3 dashes walnut bitters
- 3 dashes orange bitters
- 1 orange peel
- 1 walnut
Directions
- In a mixing glass, combine the rye, vermouth, Drambuie and bitters.
- Stir well, for about 10 to 15 seconds. Strain over a large cube in a double-rocks glass.
- Garnish with the orange peel and walnut. Cheers!
