Little Italy

Story:
This cocktail was created in 2005 by Audrey Sanders (holy crap, I can't believe I'm just now learning about this person) for the opening menu of the Pegu Club in New York City (another tragic casualty of the pandemic).  The drink named for the combination of American (rye) and Italian (Cynar and sweet vermouth) ingredients and is apparently a nod to the Little Italy neighborhood next to the bar.  A standard Manhattan is whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters.  This riff on the standard swaps out the bitters for a bit of Cynar, and that makes a big difference.  There is a LOT of bitterness here, but the rye and vermouth balance it out.  This is a slow sipper for me, but I love every minute of it. 
NOTE: Absolutely everyone online gives Audrey Saunders credit for inventing the Little Italy.  The same recipe is on the side of the Cynar bottle under the name "Cynar Manhattan".  I can't seem to find when they put it there and why they don't give the inventor credit.  
SECOND NOTE: Today I learned that it's pronounced "CHEE-nahr".  Who knew?

Recipe:

2 oz rye whiskey

0.75 oz sweet vermouth

0.5 oz Cynar

          garnish: 3 cocktail cherries, skewered

-add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice; stir until chilled
-strain into a chilled coupe

-garnish with cherry skewer