I was recently offered a chance to try out a New York state original whiskey called Manhattan Moonshine. I was intrigued by its claims that, because it wasn’t barrel aged, it could be blended in place of other liquors in various mixed drinks. So I decided to give it a try and I’m glad I did.

Manhattan Moonshine has a unique grain bill featuring a combination of oats, rye, spelt and malted barley. These give it a slightly sweet and spicy flavor without the oak or smoky flavor of barrel aging. It’s lighter than traditional whiskeys making it good in a variety of cocktails, but it’s also strong at 95 proof. Despite its strength, it goes down extraordinarily smooth. While it has a definite whiskey taste, it stands out from its competitors with its grain-forward flavor.

I tried this silver whiskey in a couple of different cocktails. I first tried it mixed with Coca Cola. While having the flavor of whiskey and coke, it was also different in that it didn’t have the harsh aftertaste of barrel-aged whiskeys. It had a sophisticated taste that went down easily.

The second drink I tried was the Berry Breeze, whose recipe I will include here. It was essentially an Irish Mule with berries mixed in and it was delicious. The flavor was much lighter in this drink and didn’t taste as strong as it actually was. That could be dangerous, but oh so delicious.

In conclusion, this whiskey definitely passed my taste test and you should give it a try too. I’ll certainly be testing it out in other cocktails as time goes on. This liquor is made in New York state from start to finish and is mainly available in New York City bars, restaurants and liquor stores. If you live elsewhere, though, don’t despair. You can purchase it online and have it shipped to 33 different states. A bottle will set you back $44.99 and right now they have an offer going for free shipping, so it’s a great time to give it a try.

Now, as promised, here’s the recipe for the Berry Breeze:

Berry Breeze

Ingredients
2 oz. Manhattan Moonshine
4-5 blackberries
0.25 oz. lime juice
Ginger beer to taste

Directions
Add blackberries to a shaker and muddle hard.
Add the lime juice and Manhattan Moonshine and shake hard over ice.
Strain into a cocktail coupe, top with ginger beer, and garnish with blackberries.