The Manhattan: Simple yet sophisticated, delightfully boozy, strong and sexy. Yes, this cocktail is near the top of our favorite classic cocktails and definitely one that you should have in your cocktail arsenal!
Ingredients
2 oz rye (we like Redemption)
1 oz sweet vermouth (Cocchi Torino)
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Method
Combine all ingredients in mixing glass with ice. Stir. Strain into martini glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.
History
As with many cocktails, the exact history of this drink is unclear but popular history has a one story that is perhaps more often told than others. According to the tale, the Manhattan was created in 1874 by Iain Marshall in honor of the president elect Samuel James Tilden. It is said that Winston Churchill’s mother, Jenny, threw a party for her father’s friend Tilden at the Manhattan Club in New York City. The cocktail was such a hit people started referring to it as “the Manhattan cocktail” after the club where it was made. However, apparently Jenny was pregnant and in France at the time, so it’s probably not true. Either way, this quintessential rye cocktail should definitely be in your arsenal.
Variations
Manhattan was a rye town back in the day so the original Manhattan was made with rye. There are so many variations of this cocktail and if you’re in the South you might expect your Manhattan to be made with the favored bourbon. Or if you find yourself in Minnesota or Wisconsin don’t be surprised if the default spirit is brandy. You can play with different bases, vermouths and even bitters. I really enjoy a Piggy Back Rye base with Cocchi Torino and a few dashes of Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel Aged bitters. Below are some popular spin-offs.
The Perfect Manhattan may quite possibly be the most popular of the Manhattan adaptations. You can also make a "dry" Manhattan which uses just dry vermouth in place of sweet vermouth.
Perfect Manhattan
Ingredients
2 oz rye (we like Redemption)
1/2 oz sweet vermouth (Cocchi Torino)
1/2 oz dry vermouth (like Dolin)
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Method
Combine all ingredients in mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into martini glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.
Rob Roy
Ingredients
2 oz scotch
1 oz Italian sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
garnish: cherry
Method
Combine all ingredients in mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into martini glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.
Yes, named after the Broadway show, this cocktail is similar to the Manhattan but it substitutes smokey Scotch in place of rye. It too can be ordered "sweet", "dry" or "perfect". Since the original recipe calls for sweet vermouth, there's no need to specify "sweet" upon ordering.
Eastern Manhattan
Ingredients
2 1/2 oz Suntory Royal Whiskey
1/4 oz Ricard or Pernod
1/2 oz sweet vermouth
garnish: cherry
Method
Combine all ingredients in mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into martini glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.
Eastern Manhattan was created in the Waldorf Astoria’s Inagiku Japanese restaurant. The recipe is found in Dale DeGroff’s book The Craft of the Cocktail.
Other Variations
Black Manhattan - substitutes Averna for sweet vermouth
Blond Manhattan - replaces moonshine for whiskey, orange bitters for Angostura, and adds a half ounce of orange liqueur
Cuban Manhattan - follows the build of a Perfect Manhattan but uses dark rum in place of whiskey
Harvard Manhattan - uses Cognac in place of whiskey (also called Brandy Manhattan if using brandy)
Devil's Manhattan - uses bourbon and Southern Comfort with Peychaud's bitters
Franciulli - adds in Fernet-Branca
Metropolitan - a slightly sweeter twist on a Brandy Manhattan using a 3:1 brandy to vermouth ratio and a splash of simple syrup.
As you can see, there are many different twists you can take when making a Manhattan cocktail. Once you've mastered the original, have fun experimenting with other flavors. You can even try barrel aging for a super smooth version!