The cocktail renaissance of the early 21st century breathed new life into countless classic cocktails. But for every Negroni, Boulevardier, and daiquiri, there’s a handful of lesser-known drinks that deserve more attention. Today, we’ll take a closer look at the Creole cocktail.
This riff on the popular Manhattan might seem like a drink from New Orleans, but it’s much more likely that this drink was created in New York City. The first known reference to the drink was by a German-born New York City bartender named Hugo Ensslin in 1916. It was also published in the 1939 version of W.C. Whitfield’s Just Cocktails.
As we mentioned earlier, the Creole is very similar to the Manhattan. But while the latter cocktail is made with whiskey, sweet red vermouth, and bitters, the Creole is made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine liqueur, and maraschino liqueur.
What you need to make the Creole
- 2 1/2 ounces of rye whiskey
- 1 ounce of sweet vermouth
- 1-2 splashes of Bénédictine liqueur
- 1-2 splashes maraschino liqueur
The Creole recipe steps
1. Add ice to a mixing glass.
2. Pour in the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine liqueur, and maraschino liqueur.
3. Stir all the ingredients gently to combine.
4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
5. Garnish with a lemon twist.
What does it taste like?
If you enjoy the whiskey, vermouth, and gently spiced flavor of a classic Manhattan, you’ll love the Creole. But just be aware that, while similar, it has a much different flavor profile. Sure, the use of rye whiskey gives it the same nice, peppery flavor you expect from a Manhattan. But the sweet vermouth is tempered by the sweet, fruity flavor of the maraschino liqueur and the herbal, honey flavor of the Bénédictine. It’s a very complex cocktail that you’ll want to make all autumn long (and likely well into the winter months and beyond).
Bottom line
If you’re already a fan of classic whiskey-based drinks like the Boulevardier, Sazerac, Old Fashioned, and the aforementioned Manhattan, adding this drink to your repertoire makes a ton of sense. The only reason you don’t already wow your friends and family with this complex, flavorful drink is likely because you’ve never heard of it. Well, now you have.
Also, we prefer to make this drink with a base of rye whiskey to add a spicy, pepper, and herbal element. But you don’t have to. If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, feel free to swap out the rye whiskey in favor of mellow, sweet bourbon. It’s a slightly different cocktail. But it’s just as flavorful and memorable. All in all, just make this drink. Making them and sharing them with friends and family is the only way lesser-known cocktails, like the Creole, stand a chance of making a comeback.
