Chicago Mistake

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (28 ratings)

Photographed in a Classico Margot 25cl Old Fashioned

Ingredients:
2 oz Ginger liqueur
1 oz Punt E Mes vermouth amaro
5 dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters
5 dash Orange Bitters by Angostura
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill an Old-fashioned glass.
  2. Prepare orange zest twist and garnish of skewered orange slice wheel and Luxardo Maraschino Cherry (sail).
  3. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  4. STRAIN into ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).
  5. EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and discard.
  6. Garnish with skewered orange slice wheel and maraschino cherry (sail).

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 6/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 5/10

Review:

Intensely flavoured with sweet notes balanced by generous dashes of bitters.

View readers' comments

History:

Josh Morton, owner/founder of Barrow's Intense Ginger Liqueur, introduced me to this cocktail in January 2023, saying, "It's a great low ABV cocktail that came out of me asking a bartender 7-8 yrs ago for an Intense Manhattan - expecting them to substitute out all or part of the vermouth with Barrow's Intense - instead, they replaced the Whiskey. I didn't think it would work but it's amazing - the Punt e Mes make it. It's also how it got its name."

Nutrition:

One serving of Chicago Mistake contains 231 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.1 standard drinks
  • 16.18% alc./vol. (16.18° proof)
  • 15.1 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Ruth Harvey’s Avatar Ruth Harvey
8th May at 17:36
I came here looking for a cocktail to celebrate the new Pope...I know it's a bit tenuous! I didn't have Punt e Mes so substituted a 2:1 mix of sweet Italian vermouth and Campari.
Cassandra Adams’ Avatar Cassandra Adams
24th March at 11:14
This recipe also encouraged me to try a variation as follows: 30 ml ginger liqueur, 30 ml vermouth amaro (Dopo Teatro), 30 ml golden rum (Havana Club 3 year aged). Worked very nicely if you like an slightly more alcohol forward drink with less ginger burn and a strong herbal bitter element.
Cassandra Adams’ Avatar Cassandra Adams
18th March at 20:19
Wow! I think actually prefer this to a Manhattan. Rich and velvety with a lovely ginger burn to finish.
Rae Hopcroft’s Avatar Rae Hopcroft
3rd December 2024 at 05:18
Surprisingly good. Substituted 2:1 sweet vermouth:Becherovka as had no Punt e Mes. Needs a good long stir to truly come together.