Mike's Mix: The Micro-Manhattan
Every Friday, Mike Augustyniak picks up a new cocktail recipe from a local mixologist. This week, he headed over to The Lowry Hill Dunn Brothers to check out one of their "micro" cocktails.
The Micro-Manhattan
Beverage consultant Jason Westplate recommends pairing this micro cocktail with Rush River's Unforgiven Amber beer.
● 1 oz. Dolin sweet vermouth
● 1/2 oz. Old Overholt rye-whiskey syrup*
● 1 tsp bing cherry juice
● 1/2 dropper Bittercube Cherry Bark Vanilla bitters
Method: Add vermouth, whiskey syrup and cherry juice to an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake till chilled and strain into a 2 1/4 oz. shot glass. Top with bitters.
*To make the syrup: Heat equal parts whiskey and sugar until sugar is completely dissolved.
Taste Test
The European tradition of pairing cocktails and beer crossed the pond and landed on the U.S. East and West Coasts several years ago. Much more recently, they've begun popping up in a few Twin Cities-area locations. The Lowry Hill Dunn Brothers is one, with a menu of micro cocktails that can be enjoyed alone, in flights, or (as their menu suggests) with craft beers.
Having no personal experience with cocktail-beer pairings, I didn't know what to expect when I tried my first, here. If I were a born cynic, I might have even though the concept was a gimmick, designed to sell more alcohol.
Here's the deal – even if that is the case, I don't care; because it works, and it's delicious. The 'Manhattan' essence of this micro cocktail really did elevate the malty, warm flavor of the beer. In fact, each craft brewer included on the menu had a chance to try the specific cocktail-beer pairing before it went on the menu… and Jason says they have loved it. "We don't want to dumb anything down, and we don't want to ruin anyone's work."
From a cost perspective, a beer-cocktail pairing at this Dunn Brothers is no more costly than a pint elsewhere; $2.50 for the micro cocktail, and $6 for the beer ($4 during their daily happy hour).
About The Lowry Hill Dunn Brothers
Located at 2528 Hennepin Avenue, this is more than just a traditional American coffee shop. Following a model that is more the rule than the exception in Europe, this shop also has wine and beer on tap, along with miniature cocktails designed to pair with certain beers. Happy hour is daily from 2-7pm.
For More about The Lowry Hill Dunn Brothers, visit them online.
