Fanciulli Manhattan

This one’s for the boys. 

In Italian slang, “Fanciulli” translates to “the boys,” but in cocktail slang it translates to a delicious riff on the classic Manhattan. The OG Manhattan appeared on the New York City bar scene around 1870 and hasn’t left since. The fame of the Manhattan lies in its simple and satisfying flavor combo – just whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. The simplicity also makes the Manhattan incredibly riff-able with tons of variations like the Rob Roy, Greenpoint, Jane Russell, and the Brooklyn that have helped solidify the Manhattan’s fame. 

But despite all of the competition, the Fanciulli Manhattan still manages to make quite the impression. Almost 60 years after the Manhattan’s debut, the Fanciulli Manhattan appeared in a copy of, “Old Waldorf Bar Days.” The publication is one of the books by Albert Stevens Crockett, publicist and historian at the Waldorf hotel, that detailed famous recipes from the hotel itself. His later publication, “The Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book,” released the recipe for the Waldorf cocktail (another Manhattan variation) along with 150 others. 

In the sea of recipes, the Fanciulli Manhattan kind of slid under the radar. As far as the books detail, this cocktail has no dramatic backstory, no famous bartender to credit for its creation, or really any major ties to Italy at all – Except for Fernet-Branca. 

In keeping with tradition, the Fanciulli Manhattan features bourbon and sweet vermouth, but the customary bitters are overlooked for bold and brassy Fernet-Branca. Since the 1960s, American bartenders have loved this Italian amaro, but Fernet has recently crept back into the cocktail scene, lacing modern creations like the Paper Plane, Midnight Stinger, and Gold Rusher. With a staggering 27 herbs and spices, Fernet isn’t exactly a subtle substitution into a Manhattan. Instead it adds a dry, bitter balance to the traditionally sweet cocktail. 

The Fanciulli Manhattan may have been named for the boys, but this rounded, herbal, Manhattan riff can be appreciated by just about anyone.