Palmetto
A stirred, sophisticated Rum Manhattan featuring sweet vermouth.
Base spirit
Rum
Style
Spirit-forward
Glassware
Coupe
The Palmetto is to aged rum what the Manhattan is to whiskey: a spirit-forward showcase of barrel aging and herbal complexity. Pairing aged rum with sweet vermouth and orange bitters creates a profile rich in vanilla, dried fruit, and oak spices. It demonstrates rum's versatility as a sipping spirit, moving it out of the tiki mug and into the cocktail glass. It is drier and more elegant than most tropical rum drinks.
Ingredients
Servings
- • 2 oz aged rum
- • 1 oz sweet vermouth
- • 2 dashes orange bitters
Did you know?
“The drink appears in the *Savoy Cocktail Book* (1930), proving that high-end European bars were treating aged rum with the same respect as whiskey before the tiki boom.”
Source:Savoy Cocktail Book
Bartender's Note
Use a rum with significant age (5+ years) to stand up to the vermouth; white rum will get lost.
How to make the Palmetto
- 1Add rum, vermouth, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice
- 2Stir until silky and cold
- 3Strain into a chilled coupe
- 4Garnish with an orange twist
