Fourth Regiment

Adding extra bitters to a Manhattan isn’t unique, but the Fourth Regiment’s trifecta of bitterness makes this mixture of rye and sweet vermouth beyond unique. There’s orange bitters, which give the drink a fruity zing, Angostura bitters to dry it out and give a hint of baking spice, and celery bitters—a truly perplexing addition that adds a savory tinge. Plumbed from Charles H. Baker’s 1939 The Gentleman’s Companion, the cocktail is a total shocker—even to Baker, who picked it up from a British naval commander in Bombay. The taste of the drink hovers between gingersnap biscuits, soy sauce and tomato. Baker’s original recipe calls for a squeeze of lime over the top of the finished cocktail, but we prefer a salty garnish, like a cocktail onion or olive, to provide some bite at the end of the savory flavor.