Go into any cocktail bar worth its salt, and you’ll find a Manhattan awaiting you. This cocktail has stood the test of time for well over a century and has made its mark across the globe. If you have asked how do you make a Manhattan cocktail then this is for you. A Manhattan cocktail features Rye or Bourbon mixed with Vermouth and a touch of Angostura bitters, simple, right? You can trace this cocktail back to the Manhattan Club in the 1860s. Like many drinks, various theories and disputes exist about who actually crafted it, but we know it ranks among the six basic cocktails listed by David A. Embury in his book, ‘The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks.’ It resembles an Old Fashioned but leans toward the dryer side. So, I highly recommend adding this Manhattan cocktail recipe to your library of drinks!
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Rye VS Bourbon
Whenever somebody orders a Manhattan from me my first question is always ‘sweet, dry or perfect?’ and my second question is ‘Rye or Bourbon?’. Due to its American routes and tradition, it is considered as usually being made with American Rye. However, my personal preference is American Bourbon for this cocktail (although I also like mine perfect, so what do I know?). These days it also not uncommon to see them made with Canadian Whiskey which offers a harsher, more intense flavour.
Sweet, dry or perfect?
Sweet, dry and perfect are all terms that relate to Vermouth. Basically, sweet Vermouth is red, dry Vermouth is white and perfect is just a equal combination of the two. The traditional and most commonly ordered Manhattan is a sweet one. The sweet Vermouth blends really well with bourbon to create a smooth and long-lasting mouth feel. Using dry Vermouth combats the sweetness in the bourbon and leaves a slightly herbaceous note. While a mix of the two cuts the long-lasting sweetness down and offers a slight bitter finish. If you are fan of sweet Vermouth, be sure to check out my Negroni recipe.
Angostura bitters are also used to give a herbal/bitter taste to once again balance the sweetness. The usual garnish would be a Maraschino Cherry dropped into the drink at the end, but other garnishes like an orange twist are not uncommon. Expressing an orange over the drink can be a great way to add some brightness and introduce some new aromas on the nose.
Manhattan Cocktail Recipe
Below is my recipe for a great tasting Manhattan cocktail. You can use Bourbon or Rye for this cocktail. If you are using bourbon I suggest using;
For rye I would use;
- Rittenhouse Rye
- Bulleit
For Vermouth I like using;
Make sure you have a mixing glass too, don’t use a shaker
These are simply suggestions, using whatever you have at home will do fine too.
A Manhattan Cocktail
Equipment
- Ice
- Julep Strainer – Or a Hawthorn strainer will do
Ingredients
- 60 ml Rye or Bourbon Whiskey
- 20 ml Sweet Vermouth – If you are making a dry Manhattan, use dry vermouth or 10ml of each for a perfect one!
- 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
- 1 Maraschino Cherry
Instructions
- Start by gathering all of your equipment. I recommend chilling your mixing glass before you start to prevent your ice from diluting too quickly.
- Next add 60 ml Rye or Bourbon Whiskey, 20 ml Sweet Vermouth and 2 dashes Angostura Bitters together in your mixing glass.
- Add ice. Enough that your mixing glass is over 2/3 full.
- Slowly mix your ingredients with the ice to dilute for about 10 seconds. Try to be gentle as you don't want to break the ice.
- Once you have enough dilution use your Julep strainer to transfer the mixture into your Coupe glass. Make sure it chilled to help keep the liquid cold for longer!
- To garnish place 1 Maraschino Cherry into the glass and allow it to sink to the bottom.
- voilà! You have just made a Manhattan. Now all that's left to do is put your feet up in front of the fireplace, sit back, and enjoy a perfectly balanced Manhattan.
That’s it! Simple right? Weather you work in a bar or are just a cocktail enthusiast, the Manhattan needs to be on your list of drinks. This cocktail is a great way to enjoy Rye or Bourbon and will always be a fan favourite. If you like this recipe, be sure to take a look at my Old Fashioned and Boulevardier recipe to get your whiskey fix. If you have made the drink at home let me know how it was in the comments below and be sure to follow us on socials for more cocktail content.
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