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    Home » Recipes » Drinks » Manhattan Recipe

    Manhattan Recipe

    Published: March 3, 2017 · Modified: May 26, 2021 by John Kanell

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    A classic drink, this Manhattan is such an easy-to-make cocktail. Made with just a few ingredients and perfect for any occasion, impress your guests by making this cocktail in less than 2 minutes!

    A Manhattan cocktail with a maraschino cherry in the middle in front of a pink linen napkin and the ingredients out of focus in the background.
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    Pinterest graphic showing a tong placing a maraschino cherry into the middle of a glass of Manhattan.
    Pinterest graphic of a glass of Manhattan with a maraschino cherry in the middle.
    Pinterest graphic of two manhattan cocktails with two maraschino cherries on a pick on top of each drink.
    Pinterest graphic of two glasses of Manhattans, each with a maraschino cherry in the middle of each and one on the counter top beside a pink linen napkin.

    A Manhattan cocktail is a classic alcoholic drink made with whisky, vermouth, and bitters. Dangerously delicious and smooth, it is a must-have for your mixology repertoire. This cocktail was invented in the 1870s in New York City’s Manhattan Club, hence the name. It’s one of my favorite drinks, and I’m excited to share with you how you can make this at home! 

    If you’re throwing a party and want some more bar-worthy drinks to impress, you have to try my French Martini and my Old Fashioned. These classic drinks are a must if you’re taking on the bartending role for the evening!

    WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

    Ingredients needed to make a manhattan drink.

    Whisky — you can use rye or bourbon whisky to make this cocktail. You can even use Canadian whiskey, blended whisky, or Tennesse whisky. My go-to is this Maker’s Mark 46, as it has a smooth and subtle finish.

    Angostura bitters — In my opinion this is the bitter of choice for the best Manhattan as it adds warmth and spice to the cocktail with fruits, spices, and herbs flavor notes without overwhelming the drink.

    Maraschino cherries — I love using Luxardo Maraschino Cherries as garnish for a Manhattan. I don’t recommend the bright red maraschino cherries as those are mostly dyed red and soaked in corn syrup instead of maraschino liqueur.

    HOW TO MAKE A MANHATTAN

    Set of two images showing vermouth and whisky being added to a glass of ice.

    1. Pour the bourbon over a glass of ice.

    2. Next, pour in the vermouth and bitters.

    Set of two showing the drink being poured out of a strainer in a cocktail glass and then topped with a maraschino cherry.

    3. Mix well with a swizzle stick, then strain into a cocktail glass.

    4. Finish with a cherry.

    A Manhattan in a cocktail glass behind a linen napkin and strainer.

    PRO TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE

    • To help your drink stay cold longer, you can place your glasses in the freezer beforehand. If you didn’t place the glasses in the freezer early enough, you can also fill the glasses with some water and place them in the freezer while preparing to make the drink for a quick chill.
    • Add a few drops of the syrup from the Luxardo Maraschino Cherries to make the drink a tad bit sweeter.
    • You can use any glass to stir the cocktail in. If you do not have a cocktail strainer, you can use any strainer or run the drink through a slotted spoon to keep the ice from falling in.
    • Try squeezing an orange peel and wiping the rim of your glass with it for an extra bit of flavor in your Manhattan.
    • Feel free to double or triple the recipe, just be sure to use a larger glass to mix your ingredients in.

    Two glasses of Manhattan cocktails with a maraschino cherry in each. Both drinks are in front of a pink linen napkin with a cocktail stirrer.

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND AN OLD FASHIONED?

    An Old Fashioned has a cube of sugar and an orange garnish but no vermouth. A manhattan uses sweet vermouth instead of sugar.  

    HOW DO YOU MAKE THIS ON THE ROCKS?

    Add the whisky, sweet vermouth, and bitters to a glass with ice and stir with a swizzle stick. Garnish with a cherry. Use larger ice cubes as they take longer to melt to avoid a diluted drink. A Manhattan is meant to be enjoyed slowly and smaller ice cubes will melt too quickly.

    WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND A ROB ROY?

    A Rob Roy cocktail uses Scotch whisky instead of the rye or bourbon you would use in a Manhattan cocktail.

    Do I shake this cocktail or stir it?

    I recommend stirring the Manhattan to combine instead of shaking as the drink turns cloudy when shaken. Some bartenders recommend 20-25 stirs to fully combine the drink, but it’s up to you how long you’d like to stir for.

    If you love this recipe try these out!

    • Two glasses of paloma with grapefruit peel as garnish on top.

      Paloma

    • Two glasses of Negroni cocktails with orange peels as garnish.

      Negroni

    • Photo of two gin fizz cocktails on a white marble table

      Gin Fizz Cocktail

    • A chocolate martini topped with shaved chocolate.

      Chocolate Martini

    • An Espresso martini on a gray surface with coffee beans scattered around

      Espresso Martini

    If you’ve tried this Manhattan cocktail recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

    Two manhattan cocktails with two maraschino cherries on a pick on top of each drink.
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    5 from 5 votes

    Manhattan Drink

    This simple and delicious cocktail is made with only a handful of ingredients. There's a reason classics never go out of style.
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 2 minutes
    Total Time 2 minutes
    Servings 1 drink
    Calories 138kcal
    Author John Kanell

    Equipment

    • Mixer
    • Swizzle stick
    • Strainer

    Ingredients

    • 1 1/2 oz bourbon or rye
    • 3/4 oz sweet vermouth
    • 3 dashes angostura bitters
    • 1 Luxardo cherry or cocktail cherry

    Instructions

    • Fill a glass with ice.
    • Pour bourbon, then vermouth, and bitters over the ice.
    • Mix well with a swizzle stick, then strain into a cocktail glass. Finish with a cherry.

    Video

    Notes

    • To help your drink stay cold longer, you can place your glasses in the freezer beforehand. If you didn’t place in the glasses early enough, you can fill the glasses with some water and place them in the freezer while preparing to make the drink for a quick chill.
    • Add a few drops of the syrup from the Luxardo Maraschino Cherries to make the drink a tad bit sweeter.
    • You can use any glass to stir the cocktail in. If you do not have a cocktail strainer, you can use any strainer or run the drink through a slotted spoon to keep the ice from falling in.
    • Try squeezing an orange peel and wiping the rim of your glass with it for an extra bit of flavor.
    • Feel free to double or triple the recipe, just be sure to use a larger glass to mix your ingredients in.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 2mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg
    *Nutrition Disclaimer
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preppykitchen and tag #preppykitchen!
     
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    Thanks for stopping by! I’m John Kanell, a husband, dad to twins Lachlan and George, Los Angeles native, and an avid baker and cooker of all things delicious thanks to a life long education from my mother. This blog is where I share all of my kitchen creations!

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