Cocktail Countdown Day 2: The Manhattan

So this one actually worked better than the Old Fashioned, which is a bit odd since the thing is basically pure alcohol. Part of my enjoyment might have had to do with the fact that my children were utter terrors last night and I really needed the sweet, sweet succor of some alcohol.

I assembled the ingredients as my children rampaged in their bedroom—sorry, I mean “went to bed.”

I used this recipe here. (I strained with my fingers, since I don’t have a cocktail strainer and was at my wit’s end with the kids by that point. It worked fine.) I popped in a few cherries to finish:

I was skeptical of this one, I have to admit. But I settled in on the couch with it and a book, while the children continued to rage. The first sip was… not that bad. Better than the Old Fashioned. I’m not sure why—maybe because it tasted less bourbon-y than the Old Fashioned? Maybe because I was tired as hell and it was nine at night and my children still weren’t asleep? It’s a mystery.

At any rate, I did like this better than the Old Fashioned, although I’m not sure if I’d actually make it again. Tonight we have that tiki craze classic, the Mai Tai. Let’s see if I like rum better than bourbon.

(Psst: There’s still time to preorder Star Dust— Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Google Play)