The Black Hound’s 100 Day Old Manhattan features actual leather bitters.
Credit: Angela Hadl
Don’t be fooled by the dainty orange peel garnish — the 150-proof 100 Day Old Manhattan is anything but tame. This surprisingly drinkable signature cocktail at the Black Hound Bar & Lounge (301 S. End Ave., 212-945-0562) is aged 100 days in a heavy charred oak barrel. The drink is then infused with bitters made from strips of hard, burnt leather. That harsh roasted flavor is countered with baked grapefruit, orange and lemon peels, and a medley of spices.
The creation of the 100 Day Old Manhattan — pioneered by mixologist Jeremy Strawn — is something of an art. A lowball glass is carefully rimmed with an orange peel before a combination of Rittenhouse Rye and Antica Carpano is poured. It’s diluted with a splash of water and served on the rocks.
