Remember the Maine recipe
A robust Manhattan relative spiked with cherry liqueur and an absinthe rinse.
Method: Stir ·
Glass: Rocks glass ·
Time: 5 min ·
Difficulty: Advanced ·
Family: The Martini Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Rye whiskey (High-rye mash bill preferred for spice)
- 3/4 oz Sweet vermouth (Full-bodied, oxidized style)
- 2 tsp Cherry Heering (Provides dark fruit and rich cherry notes)
- 1/4 tsp Absinthe (Used to rinse the glass or added directly)
- 1 strip Lemon peel (For expression of oils)
How to make a Remember the Maine
- Coat the interior of a chilled coupe glass with absinthe, discarding any excess.
- Combine the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Cherry Heering in a mixing glass filled with cracked ice.
- Stir continuously for 30 seconds until well-chilled and properly diluted.
- Strain the liquid into the prepared coupe glass.
- Express the oils from the lemon peel over the surface and discard, then garnish with a brandied cherry.
Garnish
a brandied cherry
Pro tip
Measure carefully, keep the dilution controlled, and serve Remember the Maine as soon as it is cold and balanced.
History of the Remember the Maine
First codified in Charles H. Baker Jr.'s 1939 culinary and travel volume, The Gentleman's Companion, this cocktail is widely believed to have originated in Cuba during the 1930s, likely at Havana's Hotel Nacional. It honors the battleship USS Maine, whose sinking in Havana harbor sparked the Spanish-American War, though its exact inventor remains uncredited in historical records.
Flavour profile
Boozy, Sweet, Herbal, Bitter
Variations
- Substitute aged rum for the rye whiskey to create a Caribbean iteration reminiscent of historic Havana hotel bars. — A bartender's variation on the original.
- Swap sweet vermouth for a rich red amaro like Punt e Mes to amplify the bitter herbal backbone. — A bartender's variation on the original.
- Incorporate a split base of half rye whiskey and half Laird's bonded apple brandy for autumnal orchard fruit depth. — A bartender's variation on the original.
Practise making the Remember the Maine in the free Virtual Bar game.