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The Manhattan Cocktail
The truly iconic Manhattan cocktail is a classic you’ll enjoy again and again. A whiskey based cocktail, the Manhattan is composed of just 3 simple ingredients – whiskey, vermouth and bitters.
There is much debate over whether to use Rye vs Bourbon whiskey, and although Rye is the traditional choice, bourbon is now the preference of many modern drinkers. Our advice – Try both and decide for yourself which you prefer.
A quick caveat – The Manhattan is a fairly strong cocktail, so go easy!
History of the Manhattan Cocktail
It’s no surprise to guess the origin of the Manhattan was New York in the 1880. Although its exact inventor and birthplace remains somewhat of a mystery, the drink itself has remained pretty unchanged over its 140 year history.
This timeless classic has remained a firm favourite in bars across the world. Follow this cocktail recipe for a Manhattan to capture the glamour of the classic cocktail era in the comfort of your own home.
Manhattan Cocktail
Ingredients
- 50ml Rye or Bourbon
- 25ml Sweet Vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostora Bitters
- A Cocktail Cherry, For Garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Chill your cocktail glass in the fridge before preparing your Manhattan cocktail.
- Add ice to the glass.
- Pour over the whiskey, vermouth and Angostura bitters.
- Using the bar spoon, stir slowly and carefully, being careful not to crush up the ice. (We don’t want a Manhattan slushie, after all.) The aim at this stage is to chill all of the spirits by mixing with the ice and avoiding over dilution. Mix for up to 2 minutes, until your Manhattan cocktail is perfectly chilled.
- Garnish by skwering the cherry with the cocktail stick and balancing across the rim of your glass.
- Sit back, relax and enjoy this classic cocktail.
Notes
Bartender’s tip: Don’t rush the mixing - this needs to be done slow and steady to achieve the perfect Manhattan.
Manhattan Cocktail Recipe Equipment
- Cocktail glass or coupe
- Mixing glass
- Shot measuring jigger
- Muddler
- Hawthorne Strainer
- Cocktail Stick
(Psst: Don’t know a muddler from a Nick & Nora? Check out our Cocktail 101 guide post for all the basics you need.)
Manhattan cocktail Ingredients
- 50ml Rye or Bourbon
- 25ml Sweet Vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostora Bitters
- A Cocktail Cherry, For Garnish
- Ice cubes or whiskey stones
How to Mix a Manhattan Cocktail
- Chill your cocktail glass in the fridge before preparing your Manhattan cocktail.
- Add ice to the glass.
- Pour over the whiskey, vermouth and Angostura bitters.
- Using the bar spoon, stir slowly and carefully, being careful not to crush up the ice. (We don’t want a Manhattan slushie, after all.) The aim at this stage is to chill all of the spirits by mixing with the ice and avoiding over dilution. Mix for up to 2 minutes, until your Manhattan cocktail is perfectly chilled.
- Garnish by skwering the cherry with the cocktail stick and balancing across the rim of your glass.
- Sit back, relax and enjoy this classic cocktail.
Bartender’s tip: Don’t rush the mixing – this needs to be done slow and steady to achieve the perfect Manhattan.
What is the best whiskey to use in a Manhattan?
It all comes down to personal preference of whether you prefer Rye or Bourbon.
Our Rye recommendation would be Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey. With subtle and complex flavours and a smooth, rich finish, it is perfect for Manhattans other other whiskey based cocktails.
If you prefer a bourbon, our recommendation for the best bourbon to use in a Manhattan would be Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon. With notes of Apple, Spice and Toffee, these complement the Vermouth for a smooth yet spicy finish in your Manhattan.
Manhattan Cocktail Recipe Variations
There are several variations on the Manhattan cocktail, including using Bourbon in place of Rye as mentioned above.
You could also try these other Manhattan cocktail recipe variations:
Rob Roy
Follow the basic Manhattan cocktail recipe, but substitute the Rye for Scotch Whisky. The best scotch to use in a Rob Roy is a blended whisky such as Johnny Walker green label.
Perfect Manhattan
This Manhattan recipe variation uses the same quantities as the original recipe but uses a mix of 50/50 sweet and dry vermouth. In the quantities used in this Manhattan cocktail recipe, this would mean using 12.5ml of each.
Dry Manhattan
This version substitutes dry for sweet vermouth completely, resulting in a richer and more bitter flavour than the classic Manhattan.
What’s your favourite Manhattan Cocktail variation?
Start a conversation with the community by leaving a comment below.
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