The Little Italy
The Little Italy: A Manhattan Variation with Italian Flair
The Little Italy cocktail was created by legendary bartender Audrey Saunders at her influential New York bar Pegu Club, which operated from 2005 to 2020. Saunders developed the drink as a variation on the Manhattan, incorporating Cynar, an Italian amaro made from artichokes, according to Liquor.com.
The name references Manhattan's Little Italy neighborhood while nodding to the drink's Italian ingredients. Saunders' innovation was balancing rye whiskey with Cynar's earthy bitterness and sweet vermouth's richness, creating a more complex alternative to the classic Manhattan formula, as noted in Difford's Guide.
The Little Italy emerged during the mid-2000s craft cocktail revival when bartenders were experimenting with Italian amari and bitter liqueurs. Cynar, relatively unknown in America at the time, brought vegetal and bittersweet characteristics that complemented rye's spice while differentiating the drink from standard Manhattan variations.
The cocktail became a signature at Pegu Club and spread to craft cocktail bars worldwide, helping popularize Cynar in American drinking culture. The Little Italy represents Saunders' talent for creating balanced, innovative drinks that honored classic formulas while pushing them in new directions.
RECIPE:
2 oz rye whiskey
3/4 oz Cynar
3/4 oz sweet vermouth
Orange twist for garnish
Method:
Add rye whiskey, Cynar, and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass with ice.
Stir until well-chilled, about 30 seconds.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Express orange twist over the drink and garnish.