Manhattan Recipe

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

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

1. Pour the bourbon over a glass of ice.

2. Next, pour in the vermouth and bitters.

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

4. Finish with a cherry.

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.

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’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!