Red Hook Cocktail

The Red Hook is a cross between a Manhattan and Brooklyn cocktail that calls for rye whiskey, maraschino liqueur, and Punt e Mes — a uniquely bitter, sweet vermouth. Italian bartender Vincenzo Errico created the cocktail in 2003 while at the renowned cocktail bar Milk & Honey. 

The Red Hook is considered to be the first of the modern classic riffs that would become a family of cocktails all named for Brooklyn neighborhoods. Most of the variations feature a base of rye whiskey, vermouth, and a bitter element, and are inspired by the pre-Prohibition classic cocktail called the Brooklyn. 

The Brooklyn, which combines rye whiskey, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and Amer Picon (a bittersweet French liqueur), is thought to have been created in the early 1900s in response to the wildly popular Manhattan cocktail. While the Manhattan survived Prohibition and thrived in the decades that followed, the Brooklyn fell out of favor until it was rediscovered during the modern cocktail resurgence of the early 2000s.

Errico was one of the first bartenders of this era to look to the Brooklyn for inspiration when he created the Red Hook cocktail. Soon after, a slew of neighborhood-specific riffs emerged with names such as the Greenpoint, Bay Ridge, and Bushwick. 

What makes the Red Hook cocktail work?

Boozy, stirred, and complex, the Red Hook has a sturdy base of rye whiskey, which is slightly less sweet than bourbon, and offers a bolder, peppery profile. 

Punt e Mes is technically a sweet vermouth, made with a base of fortified wine, but the herbaceous, bittersweet profile may more closely resemble an amaro. Made with more than a dozen proprietary herbs and spices, the resulting flavor profile has a rich quinine bite and heady baking spice notes. The robust vermouth helps to enhance the pepper spice qualities of the whiskey with a balance of caramel sweetness.

Maraschino liqueur is a clear, layered liqueur made from sour marasca cherries. It has a luscious mouthfeel and contributes tart cherry sweetness and complex, nutty flavors. With an ABV on the higher end of the spectrum, the cherry liqueur helps to fortify the drink even further.