Perfect Manhattan Recipe
The Perfect Manhattan Cocktail Recipe – This bold herbaceous cocktail with bitter-sweet undertones, is the perfect boozy beverage for any occasion.
Why We Love This Manhattan Cocktail Recipe
The classic Manhattan cocktail has truly stood the test of time, and for good reason! This recipe uses just three ingredients to make a flavorful, booze-forward cocktail. The Manhattan cocktail is known for its complexity of flavors. It is strong, but it is meant to be sipped on and enjoyed slowly!
I love that the Manhattan ingredients are minimal and common to have on hand if you are used to making cocktails at home!
This classic cocktail is lovely to serve at a cocktail party while guests are enjoying appetizers!
Ingredients You Need
This Manhattan cocktail recipe includes just a handful of ingredients, but each is ideal for making a classic Manhattan that is perfectly seasonal all year long. I tried several variations, and this combination of ingredients is absolutely top-notch. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Bourbon or rye whiskey – Use rye whiskey if you want the most traditional version
- Sweet vermouth – This adds sweetness, a touch of bitterness, and a strong herbaceous note. You can add a dash of dry vermouth as well for a slightly less sweet cocktail.
- Angostura bitters – Or “old-fashioned” bitters for an even stronger punch of bitterness that lingers as you sip.
- Ice – To stir and chill the cocktail in the shaker. Manhattans are not traditionally served over ice, but you can serve it in a lowball glass over a block or ice for variation.
- Cherry, lemon peel, or orange peel – To garnish the cocktail! If using a cherry, be sure to use a high-quality one like a Luxardo cherry!
Rye Whiskey vs. Bourbon
So which one should you use? There are a few components of rye whiskey and bourbon that make them different from each other…
Ingredients
- Bourbon is made up of a mash that has at least 51% corn, and is only called bourbon if it is made in the United States
- Rye Whiskey is made up of a similar mash, but instead, is at least 51% rye, and the rest of the mash can be made from corn or barley.
Flavors
- Bourbon has a sweeter and full-bodied flavor due to the corn mash, which also makes it easier to tolerate for most. It tends to have vanilla or caramel undertones.
- Rye Whiskey has spicy tones and a drier taste from the rye mash, which lends to its more intense flavor that will develop on your palate as you drink.
Types Of Bourbon
- Traditional – This is the most common bourbon.
- High-Rye – Has a large amount of rye and packs more of a kick than the traditional bourbon.
- High-Wheat – This is the softest bourbon because it has little to no rye.
- Tennessee Whiskey – Made in Tennessee and it is passed through a charcoal filter before it is aged.
Types of Rye Whiskey
- American Rye – This whiskey is heavily regulated and usually has the most consistent quality.
- Canadian Rye – Fewer regulations and usually mostly made with corn mash rather than rye mash.
All that being said, I would opt to use American Rye whiskey for the most traditional Manhattan cocktail recipe! If you use bourbon, you will be making a different cocktail, called a bourbon Manhattan!
How To Choose Your Cocktail Glass
There are many types of glasses that you can use when it comes to making a cocktail. So which ones would work well for this Manhattan recipe?
- Coupe Glasses – are the most traditional, served chilled without ice
- Whiskey Glasses – if serving on the rocks
- Also known as Short Tumbler
- Lowball
- Rocks Glass
How to Make a Perfect Manhattan
The process of making a cocktail is much easier than you might think, especially this sophisticated cocktail…
This recipe is for an individual cocktail, not multiple drinks.
- Add ice to your cocktail shaker or mixing glass.
- Pour in the bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
- Stir it all together with a bar spoon – do not shake it – then strain the beverage into a coupe cocktail glass, or into a low ball glass with a large ice cube.
- Lastly, you can garnish with a good-quality maraschino cherry, a lemon twist, or an orange rind twist.
Get the Full (Printable) Perfect Manhattan Recipe + Video Below. Cheers and Enjoy Responsibly!
What is the history behind the Manhattan cocktail?
Like so many old-school beverages, the origin stories of the Manhattan Cocktail are numerous and a little unclear!
The most popular historical tale supposedly originates from a party in New York at a Manhattan Club. The gathering was hosted by Lady Randolph Churchill (mother of Winston Churchill), but after more investigation, this was seen as a myth because Lady Randolph Churchill was pregnant at the time, and she was still in England.
There was a book published in 1923 that gave us a less glamorous explanation, stating the Manhattan Cocktail was created by a well-known bartender in Manhattan. However, this has not been documented anywhere else.
Unfortunately, the Manhattan does not have a clear history, but some would say that the mystery of this cocktail adds to its overall appeal!
Frequently Asked Questions
An Old Fashioned is traditionally made with whiskey as the base (which could be a rye whiskey or a bourbon.) Then bitters and a simple sugar cube. A Manhattan cocktail is made with rye whiskey, traditionally, and then has bitters and sweet vermouth added, instead of the sugar. The sweet vermouth is the difference, offering a Manhattan recipe more depth and intrigue than an Old Fashioned.
If you are used to drinking wine or beer, this might be a pretty strong drink for you. Manhattans are meant to sip and savor the flavors over time. If you want a slightly sweeter Manhattan that is easier to drink, add a dash of the cherry juice from the cherries you are garnishing the drink with.
You could use flavored whiskey to make Manhattan variations, just make sure it is a higher-quality whiskey. Smoked whiskey and Maple whiskey are good options. Some people prefer to use scotch, which is referred to as a Rob Roy cocktail.
If you happen to be out of sweet vermouth and want to make a Manhattan, you can use port or sweet Madeira. Just know that technically you no longer have a Manhattan cocktail.
Or, you can switch out the sweet vermouth for amaro and you will have a black manhattan!
The Telegraph has a great mocktail version for you to try!
If you want your Manhattan to have a kick, add a 1/2 ounce of chili liqueur or hot cinnamon liqueur.
Looking For More Cocktail Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:
- How to Make Simple Syrup
- Brandy Java Ice Recipe
- Killer Bee Cocktails
- Holiday Wine Punch Cocktail
- Hibiscus Ginger Iced Tea and Martinis
- Haleakala Holiday {Cocktail}
- Creamy Egg Nog ~ Epicurean Mom
- Holiday Sangria ~ Aggie’s Kitchen
Check the printable recipe card below for the nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, and sodium percentages.
Perfect Manhattan Recipe + Video
Video
Ingredients
- 2.5 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth like Antica
- 2 dashes angostura bitters
- Garnishes: twist of lemon rind, orange rind, or a maraschini cherry
Instructions
- For each Manhattan Cocktail, add ice to a cocktail shaker. Add the bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
- Stir with a bar spoon. Do not shake. Then strain into a coupe cocktail glass, or into a low ball glass over a large ice cube.
- Garnish with a marischino cherry, lemon rind twist, or orange rind twist.
OK, I have a little problem. A Perfect Manhattan is a specific drink. It is the same as your recipe, but it half Italian sweet vermouth and half French dry vermouth. I believe it can be found in a good bartenders guide
This is great Manhattan recipe, but the “Perfect Manhattan” has both sweet and dry vermouth. Try just under .5 ozs of each.
Loved learning the difference with whiskey and bourbon and how to make this cocktail exactly the way that I want it! So tasty!
This is like the Holiday drink of all drinks!
thanks for sharing this recipe!
I made these for my husband’s birthday because they are his favorite drink. We loved them so much!
Delish
the Manhattan is traditionally made with rye, not bourbon. That being said, looking forward to trying this over the holidays.
Is that 1 tsp Allspice ground or whole?
I call this fantastic!
Love your P.S. Shuts up purists perfectly. :D
What a great holiday cocktail and I just love that infused vermouth! Need to make this!