Creole Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 05/13/21
Creole Cocktail

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The Creole cocktail is a timeless favorite that is a lot like a bourbon Manhattan but with a herbal-cherry twist. This drink can be found in a few early bartending guides, including the 1939 edition of W.C. Whitfield's "Just Cocktails."

While it has the whiskey-sweet vermouth combination that makes the Manhattan wonderful, Bénédictine Liqueur sets the Creole cocktail apart. It brings in an herbal sweetness and is accented nicely with maraschino, offering a new dimension of flavor to a very familiar drink.

The ratio used here is similar to that of the original recipe. It did need a few adjustments to get the quantity up to a modern-sized cocktail, though.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes.

  3. Stir well.

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

  5. Garnish with a lemon twist. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

  • As with any Manhattan-like cocktail, the Creole will be best with a top-shelf whiskey. Choose one that you wouldn't mind drinking on its own.
  • Sweet vermouth is a fortified wine, so it has a shorter shelf-life than liqueurs. If your opened bottled has not been stored in the refrigerator or it's been open longer than a few months, it's time to replace it.
  • Whenever you serve a cocktail "up," it's best to chill the glass. It will keep your drink cool and refreshing for a longer period of time. The easiest way is to place a few ice cubes in the cocktail glass while you're mixing the drink, then dump them before straining.
  • This cocktail can also be served on the rocks in an old-fashioned glass. It's a popular option for the Manhattan and a nice choice for any drinks it has inspired over the years.

Recipe Variations

  • The Creole cocktail will work with other styles of whiskey. You might want to try it with a bold, spicy rye or a super-smooth blend from Ireland or Canada. It can also be very interesting with a blended scotch.
  • Add a dash of bitters if you like. Good accents would be aromatic bitters, chocolate bitters, or one that's barrel-aged.
  • If you skip the vermouth and maraschino liqueur, you'll have a derby cocktail.

How Strong Is a Creole Cocktail?

You likely noticed that the Creole cocktail is made entirely of liquor, which does make it a very strong drink. Using the average alcohol content for each of the ingredients, this cocktail, at its weakest, is 30% ABV (60 proof), though it can easily be much stronger. Stir very well to soften the alcohol and marry the flavors.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
327 Calories
0g Fat
21g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 327
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 6mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 8mg 39%
Calcium 11mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 49mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)