Remember the Maine
Rye and sweet vermouth deepened by cherry liqueur, with an absinthe rinse laying a fleeting herbal haze over it all.
Ingredients
- Rye whiskey60 ml
- Absinthe, to swirl round the glass, pouring off the excessrinse the glass
- Cherry liqueur, for rich cherry sweetness15 ml
- Sweet vermouth22.5 ml
- Lemon, to garnish (optional)1 twist
Method
- Pour a little absinthe into a chilled coupe, swirl it to coat the inside and pour away the excess.
- Stir the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and cherry liqueur with plenty of ice in a mixing glass for 20–30 seconds, until well chilled.
- Strain into the absinthe-rinsed glass.
- Garnish with a strip of lemon peel lightly expressed over the drink, or drop in a cocktail cherry, and serve straight away.
Charles H. Baker Jr., The Gentleman's Companion (1939)
About this drink
Charles H. Baker Jr. came across the drink in Havana in 1933 and published it in The Gentleman's Companion, his travelogue of the world's bars. The name echoes the American rallying cry after the battleship USS Maine sank in Havana harbour in 1898, an event that helped spark the Spanish-American War. It is a cousin of the Manhattan with a darker, more herbal temperament.
Questions and answers
What is Remember the Maine named after?
The USS Maine, the American battleship that exploded in Havana harbour in 1898. It ties the drink firmly to Cuba and its cocktail culture, even though the drink itself is whiskey based.
Can I leave out the cherry liqueur in Remember the Maine?
You can, but it gives the drink important sweetness and depth. Without it, you have something closer to a simple rye Manhattan with a hint of absinthe.
