Head back to Brooklyn with the spicy and herbaceous Greenpoint cocktail.
Today’s cocktail reminds me of my father’s side of the family.
My Irish paternal grandparents raised a large family in a small railroad apartment in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and one of those kids was my dad, of course. I have a pretty big set of relatives, on both sides, and having spent a lot of time in that exact apartment over the years, I still can’t imagine that many loud people in such a tiny space. Or maybe I can.
Years after my grandmother moved out to stay with my aunt and uncle, well into her late 80s, I accidentally happened upon the old building one random night out on a date. During the 1980s and 1990s, and when my dad was growing up decades earlier, that neighborhood wasn’t exactly the best. It looked like something out of Taxi Driver, and half the time, a lot of the cars parked along the street were being stripped for parts. It always seemed gray and drab and just… concrete.
This particular evening, I met a lovely young lady at a whiskey bar in Williamsburg, and as it was summertime, we took a stroll after a few cocktails. A long one, too. Later, on a tree-lined and cute-looking street, we kissed. And I knew it wouldn’t go past this date, because the poor thing just swallowed my chin and flopped her tongue all over my mouth without much finesse or charm. Bad kisser? I was soaking in it.
But then I realized I was standing in front of my grandma’s old place, the apartment where my father and his siblings grew up. And I marveled at how much this neighborhood had changed, from years ago looking like a suburbanite’s worst nightmare, to now becoming a way-too-expensive and trendy hotspot.
And as I wiped my face and pointed this out, I somehow knew this moment would smile back at me every time a whiskey dram rushed past my lips.
What is the best whiskey to use in a Greenpoint Cocktail?
As this drink is an offshoot of the classic Manhattan, let’s opt for a rye whiskey to mix with. This spirit is a peppery and spicy blend of sweet and fruity notes, with some hints of oak, depending on how long it has been aged. There’s also a lovely heat on the finish of each sip, which warms your belly as it goes down. Some of my favorite ryes are Bulleit, High West and Woodford Reserve.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rye whiskey
- 1/2 ounce Yellow Chartreuse
- 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
- 1 dash orange bitters
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- Lemon or orange twist for garnish
Instructions
- Add the whiskey, Yellow Chartreuse, sweet vermouth, and both bitters into a mixing glass filled with ice.
- Stir well until the drink is chilled and strain into a pre-chilled coupe or cocktail glass.
- Express the lemon or orange twist over the drink and add it as garnish.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
Chill a coupe in your freezer before pouring your drink in to ensure a crisp and extra-cold sipping experience. Garnish with a lemon or orange twist for an extra zip of citrus.
Can you use different bitters for this cocktail?
If you like, you can experiment with different varieties of bitters to subtly change the flavor profile of this cocktail, such as lemon, cherry or lavender.
Similar drinks to the Greenpoint Cocktail
The Greenpoint is a tasty variant of an iconic dram, and you might be pleased to know there are even more versions of that classic tipple out there for you to try. Twist & Toast has a fantastic collection of easy-to-make recipes, so if you’re curious about what else can be on the menu, try these for a start.
- Black Manhattan – Mysterious, dark and delicious.
- Dry Manhattan – Crisp, balanced and far from wet.
- Bourbon Manhattan – A smoky and smooth concoction, perfect for a late afternoon.
- Tequila Manhattan – An earthy, Southwestern spin on the metropolitan mixture.
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