Skip advertisement Advertisement

Call me Ish

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (18)
Call me Ish image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 fl oz Bourbon whiskey
1 fl oz Spanish brandy
1 fl oz Amaro (e.g. Meletti)
1 dash Orange Bitters by Angostura

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above.

How to make

Glassware

Serve in a Coupe glass

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.

Method

  1. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  2. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Call me Ish contains 219 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.9 standard drinks
  • 30.16% alc./vol. (60.31° proof)
  • 27.3 grams of pure alcohol

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

Adapted from a recipe created by Drew Nemetz and Billy Nichols at Simon & The Whale, Freehand Hotel, New York City, USA. "The Whale" in the name of where this drink was first made helps explain the cocktail name inspired by the famous start to the opening chapter of Herman Melville's 1851 novel, Moby-Dick, "Call me Ishmael."

Review

Equal parts American whiskey, Spanish brandy and Italian amari produces an incredibly complex, spirit-forward, bittersweet Manhattan-like cocktail.

Difford’s Shop logo
$1.56 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 12.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

Comments & Discussion

G. M. Genovese Premium Member
Made with Old Bardstown BiB, Cognac Leyrat VS, and Regan's No. 6... It's certainly distinctive. And the high-proof bourbon cuts a sharp, spicy top note which, to me, seemed to tame the underlying sweetness a little but perhaps not enough.
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Normally do not like cocktails which are considered sweet, but loved this. After reading the comments, decided to use Amaro Montenegro which made the final cocktail pleasantly balanced. Great after-dinner or an evening sipper.
score: 1
David M. Premium Member
Sweet. Nice for after-dinner.
Glad to have a use for my Meletti.
score: 3
Philip Vande Pol
2/5 Used Cognac instead of Spanish Brandy. It is a bit sweet and cloying toward the end as the drink warms up. Truth be told, it just does not have many layers of depth or complexity. Like a bland black manhattan, adding more bitters: aromatic, chocolate, anything to help cut the sweetness. Serving over the rocks would also help.
score: 2

View 4 comments and discussion

See more...

Nightcap/sipping Cocktails

Nightcap/sipping Cocktails image

Cocktails suited to late-night drinking, often more spirit-forward and rich in style.

View more

Short & stirred Cocktails

Short & stirred Cocktails image

Cocktails of a small volume that are stirred (not shaken).

View more

Spirit-forward Cocktails

Spirit-forward Cocktails image

Spirit-forward cocktails have larger measures of spirituous ingredients and are sometimes described as being “boozy”.

View more
Difford’s Shop logo
$1.56 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 12.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

Beach House

Beach House Image

Reminiscent of a Naked & Famous turned tropical.

View more

Borough

Borough Image

A Manhattan variation created to help promote US-made Dubonnet Rouge, but is best made with French Dubonnet Red, or indeed another red quinquina.

View more

Roman Punch

Roman Punch Image

This recipe (by yours truly in August 2026) combines elements from various vintage Roman Punch recipes to produce a cooling fruity sour laced with...

View more

The Aftermath

The Aftermath Image

Most bartenders would stir this cocktail, as per Robin's original recipe. However, when shaken, this cocktail develops an attractive foamy head and a...

View more

Difford's House

Difford's House Image

My old tom gin version of the classic Holland House, mostly leaning on the recipe in Harry Craddock's 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book.

View more

Tango (by Mattia Capezzuoli)

Tango (by Mattia Capezzuoli) Image

A Cleansing riff on a Paloma with subtle bittersweetness.

View more