Whether it’s a carefully crafted cocktail or a fine cut of steak, the “black and blue” combination has always been a favourite of mine. However looking at cocktails, as much as I hate to mess with a classic, this black + blue manhattan is a fresh and fruity take on a traditional standard that you’ll definitely need to add to your home-bartending repertoire.
INGREDIENTS
1.5 oz. of rye
0.5 oz. of rosso vermouth
1.0 oz. of blackberry + blueberry puree*
3 dashes of bitters
INSTRUCTIONS
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add in puree, bitters, vermouth and rye. Shake mixture for 15 seconds and strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass. Garnish with blackberries or blueberries (or both).
ADDITIONAL NOTES
*To make the blackberry + blueberry puree, in a blender/food processor combine 0.5 cup of blackberries, 0.5 cup of blueberries, 2 heaping tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of orange juice. Blend for approximately 30 seconds and feel free to add more sugar to taste. Strain mixture with a sieve and you’re done! Typically fruit purees are good for approximately 3-5 days in the refridgerator or can be frozen for up to 6 months. Pro-tip: freeze the leftover mix in ice cube trays and add to future cocktails.
