A cocktail just red enough to meet the holiday’s requirements. (photo courtesy of the brand)

It’s hard to say why rum seems more romantic than whiskey. Is it the aromas of a languid beach vacation? The devil-may-care piratic associations? We do not know. But we love Equiano rums, and this concoction—just a little off the beaten path—should get your celebration started.

THE EQUIANO MANHATTAN

Ingredients

2 oz Equiano

1 oz high-quality sweet vermouth

½  tsp maraschino liquor

1 dash angostura bitter

Orange twist to serve

Method

Combine ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker.

Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled glass.

Garnish with an orange twist.

And there’s a feel-good addendum:  Equiano donates 5 percent of global company profits and $2 of every bottle sold through their website to ground level freedom and equality organizations, such as their grant recipient last year, Anti-Slavery International.