This Manhattan cocktail recipe is very simple with just three ingredients: whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters. It's easy to make this classic drink at home.
I have to admit that a Manhattan is one of my favorite classic cocktail recipes. My Old Reliable, my Ride or Die. It's a simple drink, made with three ingredients (four if you count the cherry), but it somehow transcends them and becomes something more once it's in the glass.
The Manhatan cocktail has been around since the 1800s and stood the test of time, I'm guessing because whiskey is the main ingredient. It's also easy to make: 2 parts whiskey to 1 part vermouth then 2 dashes of bitters. That's an uncomplicated recipe you can carry around in your back pocket at all times.
It's not too sweet and not too harsh, it goes down smoothly (sometimes too smoothly) and it's utterly satisfying. A Manhattan is a drink that's sturdy, it's classy, it's there when you need it.
And then you get a cherry at the bottom for dessert.
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Manhattan cocktail ingredients
A Manhattan cocktail is one of the best drinks to make at home because it only has three ingredients! And those ingredients can be used to make so many other cocktails!
- Whiskey: You can use rye whiskey or bourbon for a Manhattan. I typically make mine with bourbon.
- Sweet vermouth: Dolin is always my first choice, just make sure to choose a high-quality brand. Remember that vermouth is a fortified wine, so keep it in the fridge once opened.
- Angostura bitters: Angostura has its own secret blend of botanicals and is the designated bitters for a Manhattan cocktail recipe.
- Cocktail cherries: For the garnish. My fave are Fabbri Amarena cherries. You might as well get the big jar while you're at it.
Let's talk about cocktail cherries!
The traditional garnish for a Manhattan is a high-quality cocktail cherry, my favorite are Fabbri Amarena cherries, but Luxardo cherries are very commonly used. Please don't use a cheap American maraschino cherry that you find on the baking aisle, they are full of chemicals which will taint the taste of your drink.
How to make a Manhattan cocktail
Step 1: Chill and stir
In a cocktail shaker or mixing glass, pour 2 ounces whiskey, 1 ounce sweet vermouth and 2 dashes angostura bitters over ice and stir to chill.
Step 2: Strain
Strain into a coupe glass or over ice in a rocks glass.
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Step 3: Garnish with a cherry and drink up!
Garnish with a cocktail cherry, add a small spoonful of the cherry syrup from the jar if desired. (I always desire this!)
Should you use rye or bourbon for a Manhattan cocktail recipe?
The classic Manhattan recipe calls for rye, but in more recent years, bourbon has become the dominant choice for the drink. Choose whichever you prefer. In terms of flavor profile, rye will be spicier, bourbon will be sweeter.
So what's the best whiskey for a Manhattan? If you like to drink rye, Bulliet or Rittenhouse are widely available and are great options. If you prefer bourbon, try Four Roses (my favorite quality workhorse bourbon for classic cocktails) or Woodford Reserve. There are so many boutique brands, too. The choices are endless!
Yes, you really do need the Angostura bitters
Bitters are always a part of the ingredients list for any Manhattan cocktail recipe, but do you really need them? YES! Think of bitters like you would vanilla extract in baking. It's a small amount of alcohol loaded up with concentrated flavors and aromas.
In the case of bitters, those flavors and aromas are called botanicals, and come from herbs, spices, citrus and other natural sources. Angostura bitters have their own unique recipe from 1824 that is top secret, but they add the perfect note to finish a Manhattan cocktail and bring the flavors of the drink together.
FAQ
A Manhattan is commonly served both ways, up in a coupe glass or on the rocks in a rocks glass. I say either is fine, choose what suits your mood.
You should stir a Manhattan and then strain it into your glass. This preserves the clarity of the ingredients, shaking can make it look cloudy. But what you do in your own home is your business, we often shake ours.
Legend has it that the Manhattan cocktail was invented in the 1870s for a party thrown at the Manhattan Club in New York City by Lady Randolph Churchill—yes that Churchill—Winston's mother. However, she was in England and very pregnant on the date of said party, so that's a no-go. But the first published mention of a Manhattan cocktail recipe is from the early 1880s, so we at least know that it has been around since that time.
When to serve a manhattan cocktail
A Manhattan is a classic crowd pleaser of a drink that can be served at any occasion from casual to formal.
- Great at happy hour.
- A Manhattan is one of the best drinks to serve with food! Try them during cocktail hour with appetizers, serve them at fancy dinners, they even go great with desserts! (They're easy to batch!)
- The warming bourbon makes them a perfect choice for winter holiday drinks.
- Treat yourself after work when you just want to put your feet up and have a great sipping drink!
More cocktail recipes with sweet vermouth
The Manhattan cocktail is the great grandpa to these classic drink recipes which also feature sweet vermouth as one of their ingredients.
- Try a French Manhattan, which swaps the bourbon for cognac, when you're feeling fancy.
- The Boulevardier Cocktail adds Campari into the whiskey/vermouth mix, which makes it a great aperitif.
- A Maple Old Fashioned puts a twist on a classic bourbon drink that's perfect for fall.
- Try a Hanky Panky, made with gin, sweet vermouth and Fernet-Branca for bold, herbal flavors.
- A Negroni gets its bright and bitter flavors from gin and Campari, and will have you feeling like Italian sunshine.
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Recipe
Manhattan Cocktail Recipe
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ounces whiskey rye or bourbon
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, pour whiskey, vermouth and bitters over ice and stir to chill.
- Strain into a coupe glass or over ice in a rocks glass.
- Garnish with a cocktail cherry. Add a spoonful of cherry syrup if desired.
Notes
- Garnish with a high-quality cocktail cherry, my favorite are Fabbri Amarena cherries, but Luxardo cherries are very commonly used. Please don't use cheap American maraschino cherries that you find on the baking aisle, they are full of chemicals which will taint the taste of your drink.
- Remember that vermouth is a fortified wine, and needs to be stored in the refrigerator.
- Be sure to check out the post above for answers to FAQs.
LINDA Sharon CUMMINGS
Thanks for the details that make a difference.
Debra
You are welcome!