Message 8815 of 22774 in Behind the Bar

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Natrone,

The person who in London, England seems to have introduced adding Cherry 
Sirup/ juice to Manhattans is a Mr. Dick Bradsell. I had the pleasure of 
working with Dick for a year and a half, and he told me the same story 
whenever people asked about the cherry syrup. He was at the best bar in 
Kentucky, being served by the best bartender in Kentucky (I think it might 
have been Max Allen Jnr - deceased now). He liked the Manhattan which was 
brought to his table so much that he went and asked the bartender for the 
recipe. The bartender refused (strange as I quite freely giv my recipes away). 
So Dick resorted to bribing the waiteress to watch the bartender as he 
prepared the next Manhattan. According to the waiteress, the bartender made it 
as normal, but added Cherry Syrup/ juice to the mixing glass.

Now I think that it was Max Allen Jnr, as he was referred to as the best 
bartender in Kentucky, and was alive at the time of Dick's visit. The only 
problem is that Max Allen's recipe, which is featured on a website somewhere, 
uses Grenadine syrup instead of Cherry Syrup/ juice.

I believe that Jerry Thomas has syrup of some type in his Manhattan recipe.

Cheers!

George