Manhattan Riff · Aperitivo · Strong
Little Baloney
In the owner’s words: Bittersweet
- Base
- Rye
- Glass
- Coupe
- Method
- Stirred
- Effort
- Intermediate · 4 min
- ABV
- 28%
Build
- Rye Whiskeyor Bourbon / High-rye Bourbon
- Cocchi Americanoor Lillet Blanc / Dry Vermouth
- Amaro Montenegroor Amaro Nonino / Amaro Averna
- Luxardo Cherryor Maraschino Cherry / Amarena Cherry · Drop into the finished cocktail · garnish
You’ll need: Mixing glass, Bar spoon, Strainer, Jigger
Method — Stirred
- Add rye whisky, Cocchi Americano, and Amaro Montenegro to a mixing glass
- Fill the mixing glass with ice
- Stir for 30-40 seconds until well-chilled and properly diluted
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass
- Drop in a cherry as garnish
The story
The Little Baloney is a modern aperitivo-style cocktail featured in America's Test Kitchen's 'Cocktails Illustrated' (2024). It represents the contemporary trend of combining American whiskey with Italian aperitif wines and amari to create complex, spirit-forward drinks that bridge classic Manhattan territory with lighter aperitivo sensibilities.
Variations
This cocktail can be adjusted by varying the amaro - try Cynar for a more savory, earthy profile, or Ramazzotti for deeper baking spice notes. The Cocchi Americano can be replaced with Cocchi Americano Rosa for a slightly more bitter and aromatic version. Some bartenders add 1-2 dashes of orange bitters for additional complexity.
Host tips
Chill the coupe glass in the freezer beforehand for optimal temperature. The stirring time is crucial - 30-40 seconds provides proper dilution while maintaining the drink's strength. The combination of Cocchi Americano's quinine bitterness and Montenegro's citrus-floral notes creates a beautifully balanced aperitivo that's less sweet than a traditional Manhattan but more approachable than a pure Negroni.
