Are you a Discerning Drinker?
Join thousands of like-minded professionals and cocktail enthusiasts, receive our weekly newsletters and see pages produced by our community for fellow Discerning Drinkers.
Forum
Monte Carlo
When served straight-up, the Monte Carlo fits into the Scaffa family of cocktails, but it's much better and more usually served on-the-rocks, so best described...
Mike Hillis
12th October at 03:23
Love this drink. One of the most overlooked classics out there. A lemon twist is essential to counter the sweetness of the Benedictine (but it’s not an overly sweet drink).
26th September at 18:04
Used Lot 40 Canadian Rye (as not touching American spirits for foreseeable future..) and a few more drops of bitters(Seasn DARK). Delicious after a long day!
10th December 2024 at 05:06
Delicious! I used the std and the Anders Erickson ratio - I preferred the Anders Erickson (3:1 - 1 1/2 oz ry and 1/2 oz Benedictine, 2 dashes Ango). I don't find it too sweet - just rich and delicious. Serving on ice helps by diluting the drink a bit. A great way to enjoy rye.
29th January 2023 at 20:32
I made one of these with Irish Whiskey instead of Rye. I call it the Monte Carlow.
21st April 2023 at 21:29
Just sipping on one made with Powers Irish Rye now and it quite tasty.
1st January 2023 at 22:45
Found this interesting note of Robb Report about some variations:
This is so simple that the whiskey is entirely up to personal taste. Use whatever rye you like and it’ll be great. For that matter, you can use bourbon (called a Kentucky Colonel), aged tequila (called a Monte Carlos), cognac, calvados, aged rum, you name it. This is one of the liqueurs great charms—as long as the spirit is aged, don’t worry, the Bénédictine will make it work.
This is so simple that the whiskey is entirely up to personal taste. Use whatever rye you like and it’ll be great. For that matter, you can use bourbon (called a Kentucky Colonel), aged tequila (called a Monte Carlos), cognac, calvados, aged rum, you name it. This is one of the liqueurs great charms—as long as the spirit is aged, don’t worry, the Bénédictine will make it work.
17th January 2023 at 23:57
I don't know the other spirits Simon, but it would be fun to come up with some! Monte Caribbean!, or Monte Cnut (Normandy...vikings...Cnut...:-))
3rd January 2023 at 13:24
Many thanks, Lynette. I'll add a Kentucky Colonel and Monte Carlos to Difford's Guide as soon as we've been able to photograph. In the meantime, I've added notes under variation. Do you know the names of any of the other variations based on other spirits?
21st August 2022 at 06:25
Just the right amount of sweet and the rye keeps it from being cloying. Very smooth. Love this drink!!
27th May 2021 at 03:41
Great evening sipping drink. Smooth, dry, and just a hint of sweetness. Made to the recipe, but also made putting in a teaspoon Absinthe Verte. I loved the second, but only to recommend to someone who likes the taste of Absinthe.
27th November 2020 at 23:52
Smooth with a sweet entrance and definite rye finish