Manbuca

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Yes, you heard that right.

(Jump to the recipe.)

When the good folks at Molinari kindly sent us this bottle of Sambuca, Chris was quickly reminded of a regular he had at his bar nearly ten years ago. That regular always used to order a Manbuca: a Manhattan with Sambuca. The guy named it– and no, it’s not a nod to masculinity or anything like that, just a reference to the ingredient mash-up– and the name stuck.

When using Sambuca in cocktails, it’s important to be sparing. It’s an extremely strong flavor and if you’re not careful, you can quickly overwhelm your drink completely. It was a perfect opportunity to try another bottle we’d just received – Pendleton Midnight. I’m happy to say the two get along very nicely!

AN UNLIKELY PAIR

The Pendleton Midnight blended whiskey holds its own in this drink, while making room for the sambuca to shine through. The result is unlike any Manhattan you’ve ever had – but not in a bad way. The anise shines brightly through the whiskey but again, doesn’t overpower it completely.

THIS ONE’S FOR THE LICORICE LOVERS

So if you can get past the goofy name, this is actually a pretty great drink! (That is, as long as you like licorice!)

Manbuca

Putting Sambuca in cocktails is risky business – but it works perfectly as a cameo in this great Manhattan variation.

3.80 from 5 votes

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Course: Drinks

Equipment

• 1 10 Piece Stirred Craft Cocktail Set
• 3 Pour Spouts
• 1 Bitters Bottles

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Blended Whiskey Pendleton Midnight
• 1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth Punt e Mes
• 1/4 oz Sambuca Molinari
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 2 ea Cocktail Cherries For Garnish

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice
• Stir to dilute and chill
• Strain into a martini glass.