Hi, Rhett, thanks for adding these observations. You sound like a guy who is as interested in ratios as I am.

I hadn’t heard that part about the motivation behind the design of the Red Hook, to accommodate the Brooklyn’s need for the virtually non-existent Amer Picon. Seems obvious, now that you mention it.

As for the maraschino—I agree, we’re sort of pushing our luck at the half ounce end of the range, but it shows up in some recipes, and it seems to work if the drink is really, really cold, as you observed. Since I tend to mix them small and drink them cold, it’s not a problem, but I will say that I usually don’t really use a proper half ounce, maybe more like a heavy quarter ounce. If I were writing this article today, I’d probably list the maraschino at a quarter to a third of an ounce, and lean more to the lighter end.

That expressed lemon twist is something I just sort of stumbled onto. I probably did it by mistake one day, and found that I liked it. Your speculation that it works well with the heavy dose of maraschino probably hits it on the head. I agree that the original Red Hook was apparently an ungarnished drink, and I will change the text to emphasize that aspect.

Thanks for your insights!

A Brooklyn and a Manhattan side by side are quite different drinks, not just in their use of dry vs. sweet vermouth, respectively, but also in the Brooklyn’s addition of two liqueurs (the aforementioned Picon and maraschino). It also has a very influential ratio structure (as does the Red Hook) in creating new cocktails.

As for the ratio, I find more than 1/4oz of maraschino makes for a MUCH too sweet and unbalanced a drink. The original recipe does call for “1/4-1/2 to taste,” and the 1/2 not only gives too much sweetness and mouthfeel but also overpowers the subtleties of the rye. The 2oz spirit, 1/2oz vermouth, 1/4oz liqueur structure is the one that is used again and again in bartending because of its consistent balance.

I think the “drink it quickly – that maraschino is really cloying when it warms up” is a great indication that you didn’t balance your drink properly. Drinks do get sweeter as they get warmer, but should never be cloying.

And as a final note, I’m not sure where you found the lemon oil garnish listed, as the original Milk & Honey drink had no garnish at all (I know you say “optional”). Personally, I think it’s perfect just the way it is. The maraschino is aromatic enough, and there’s no need to dry it out with a little oil if you stick with the 1/4oz.

Cheers!

~Rhett