Looking for a magical Manhattan cocktail recipe? John Masko (a friend of Bottles) has concocted this special drink that features White Ginger Infused Simple Syrup from Sonoma Syrup Company.

To make their White Ginger Simple Syrup, Sonoma Syrup Co. infuses fresh white ginger in pure cane syrup, resulting in a peppery, sweet taste. It can enhance loads of cocktails, but is especially ideal for Masko’s Manhattan, a combination of Knob Creek Bourbon, Ramazzotti Amaro, and the amazingly delicious Luxardo cherry.

MASKO’S MANHATTAN

Ingredients:
— 3 oz Knob Creek Bourbon
— 3/4 oz Ramazzotti Amaro
— 1 1/2 teaspoons (1/4 oz) White Ginger Infused Simple Syrup from Sonoma Syrup Company (shake the syrup well before dispensing)
— Luxardo cherries

Directions:
Add the three liquid ingredients to a shaker 2/3 full of ice.  Shake longer than usual with ice (I shake to a slow count of 40) and strain into a chilled cocktail glass; because of the intense flavors of all of the ingredients, prolonged shaking is necessary.  Garnish with one or two Luxardo cherries and lightly pull a Luxardo-syrup-coated fork through the cocktail after you place the cherry, leaving a fading swirl of syrup.

 (The measurement of Bourbon and Ramazzotti is not as critical as that of the ginger syrup: under or over-measuring the syrup can give a very different character to the cocktail.)

Recipe by John Masko