Remember The Maine

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Cocktail History

The Remember The Maine is a vintage cocktail that was created in Cuba in the 1930s before it was eventually discovered by Charles H. Baker during the Cuban Revolution and was published in his book The Gentleman’s Companion. Described as part Manhattan and part Sazerac, it also calls for rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and absinthe but adds deep cherry flavors that make it entirely different from the other classics. Though the recipe gained fame around the time Baker's book was published, its name refers to the Maine, a U.S. naval ship whose sinking sparked the Spanish American War thirty-five years earlier.

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Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Rye: This is a type of whiskey made with at least 51% rye grain, malted barley, corn, and water. I used Heaven Hill Distillery Rittenhouse Rye.

Sweet Vermouth: This is a fortified wine made with grapes, sugar, botanicals, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. I used Dolin Vermouth de Chambery Rouge.

Heering Cherry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made in Denmark with Stevens cherries, baking spices, almonds, sugar, and alcohol.

Absinthe: This is a spirit made with anise, wormwood, fennel, botanicals, and alcohol. I used Great Lakes Distillery Amerique 1912 Absinthe Verte.

Cherry: This is a fruit that has been soaked in brandy and rich syrup. I used Luxardo Maraschino Cherries.

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Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. I used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.

Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.

Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. I used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.

Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. I used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.

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Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Dark and brooding brown color

• Aroma: Absinthe and whiskey

• Taste: Punchy rye-forward flavor rounded out with cherry and vanilla

• Finish: Smooth yet spicy notes with lingering anise

Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Kendall’s Take: "My palate is fairly underdeveloped, so I don't yet enjoy the taste of a classic Manhattan or Sazerac. And since this is essentially one of those with cherry added, I didn't love the Remember The Maine either. It was certainly more palatable than the original Manhattan thanks to the cherry liqueur, but I still shivered from the bitters and booziness."

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Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.