Ragtime

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (72 ratings)

Photographed in a Michelangelo Coppa 225ml

Ingredients:
1 12 oz Straight rye whiskey (100 proof /50% alc./vol.)
1 oz Amaro (e.g. Ramazzotti)
1 oz Bittersweet orange-red aperitivo
0.08 oz La Fée Parisienne absinthe
1 dash Peychaud's or other Creole-style bitters
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Coupe glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.
  3. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 9/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 6/10
Cocktail of the day:

13th October 2025 is GMT's birthday

Review:

This bittersweet drink benefits from the strength of bonded rye whiskey and was originally made with Rittenhouse.

View readers' comments

History:

Adapted from a drink created in 2009 by Jeremy James Thompson at Raines Law Rooms in New York City, USA.

Nutrition:

One serving of Ragtime contains 258 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 2.1 standard drinks
  • 26.77% alc./vol. (26.77° proof)
  • 28.9 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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4th August 2024 at 22:07
I think there was a little too much absinthe when I blindly poured it into the mixing glass. That's what I get when I'm supposed to measure 1/12th oz! How one would even try that I can't imagine. Nonetheless, it's a beautifully colored cocktail, a bit spicy on the tongue, but amazingly smooth and silky otherwise, even though it's stirred. (I tend to stir longer than recommended, because I can.) All in all, it's entering rotation, and will be shared with friends! Only good friends.
Nick Badovinac’s Avatar Nick Badovinac
19th October 2024 at 14:28
1/12 of an ounce is about 3 dashes. I keep a dropper bottle full of absinthe for just such things. Also the dropper makes absinthe washing a glass for a sazerac or a corpse reviver #2 easy.
Martin Schwartz’s Avatar Martin Schwartz
9th June 2024 at 01:12
This is an excellent cocktail. Very easy to drink, perhaps too easy. It’s one of the reasons I always keep Ramazzotti in the house (another one being the Manhattan Transfer).
Luca Viviani’s Avatar Luca Viviani
3rd March 2024 at 17:47
An excellent rye whiskey cocktail. I’m not so sure it is a good fit as an aperitivo: liquorice and anise notes may not be best suited to prepare the palate for a meal. I will make it again after dinner!
Susie Bright’s Avatar Susie Bright
3rd March 2024 at 02:15
Used Amaro Nonnino. It’s thundering outside, must make do. Like a Paper Plane only without lemon — the Peychaud’s and Absinthe instead. Very nice New Orleans vibe
Ian Fenton’s Avatar Ian Fenton
8th October 2023 at 11:41
I used Amaro Lucano; I think it’s a reasonable substitute for Ramazzotti (although I haven’t had it for a while). Quite delicious; five stars for me.
Calvin Grant’s Avatar Calvin Grant
8th April 2023 at 03:32
Rich liquorice notes.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
22nd January 2023 at 01:28
Very nice cocktail. It was a bit sweeter than I was expecting, to me it was more a 6 than 7, but that could be just my personal taste and the ingredients I was using. Overall, it was perfect as an aperitif before an pizza dinner.
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
22nd January 2023 at 10:41
Agreed an thanks, John. I've changed to a 6.
David M.’s Avatar David M.
10th May 2020 at 06:13
Excellent. Sazarac flavors, but more complex.