Allegheny
Rye, dry vermouth, blackberry liqueur and a dash of lemon, stirred. A 1970s drink that is a dry Manhattan with blackberry — and better than its era's reputation.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Chill a coupe.
Add the rye, dry vermouth, blackberry liqueur and lemon juice to a mixing glass.
Fill with ice and stir for 25 seconds.
Strain into the chilled coupe, express a lemon twist over the top and drop it in.
A thoughtful finish
- Equal rye and dry vermouth is the Mr. Boston recipe; two to one rye makes a drier, more modern drink.
- A real crème de mûre, not a 'blackberry brandy' that is mostly sugar.
- The lemon is a dash; it keeps the liqueur from being sweet.
Common mistakes
- Sweet vermouth; the fruit then doubles up.
- Too much blackberry liqueur.
- Shaking a drink that is mostly spirit and vermouth.
A few good questions.
What does an Allegheny taste like?
A dry Manhattan with blackberry — spicy rye, crisp vermouth, dark fruit, a touch of lemon.
Rye or bourbon?
Either; Mr. Boston allows both. Rye is drier and suits the dry vermouth.
What is crème de mûre?
Blackberry liqueur, French-style, the Bramble's drizzle. Cassis stands in.
Why the name?
For the Allegheny River and mountains of Pennsylvania; there is no story.
Variations
- Manhattan — Rye and sweet vermouth.
- Bramble — Gin, lemon and blackberry liqueur.
- Bourbon Renewal — Bourbon, lemon, cassis and bitters.
- Brooklyn — Rye, dry vermouth, maraschino and amaro.
Where it comes from
c. 1970s · United States
Contested. More than one origin is claimed for this drink. We show the competing accounts rather than pick one.
The Allegheny appears in the Mr. Boston bar guides of the 1970s — bourbon or rye with dry vermouth, blackberry brandy and lemon juice, stirred, with a lemon twist — named for the Pennsylvania river and mountains. Nobody is credited. It is a dry Manhattan with a half-ounce of blackberry liqueur in place of the sweetness that sweet vermouth would give, and the fruit against the dry vermouth works better than the decade’s drinks usually do. The 2000s revival of blackberry liqueur — crème de mûre, for the Bramble — gave it a second look.
Sources
- Leo Cotton (ed.), Old Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide, 1974 (book)
- Difford's Guide, Allegheny, 2015 (reference)
- Gary Regan, The Joy of Mixology, 2003 (book)
Strength. About 1.68 US standard drinks at an estimated 22.4% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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