Manhattan

User Reviews

5.0

6 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    2 mins

  • Total Time

    2 mins

  • Servings

    1 cocktail

  • Calories

    198 kcal

  • Course

    Drinks

  • Cuisine

    American

Manhattan

Made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters, a Manhattan is a classic cocktail with a long history and an almost unchanging recipe. And it's a strong drink, too!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 2 ounces rye whiskey or bourbon whiskey (1/4 cup, see note 1)
  • 1 ounce sweet vermouth (2 tablespoons, see note 2)
  • 2 to 3 dashes old-fashioned bitters or Angostura bitters (1/8 teaspoon)
  • 1 maraschino cherry or orange peel, for garnish (see note 3)
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Instructions

  1. In a mixing glass, add whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Fill glass 3/4 full with ice. Using a bar spoon, stir until well chilled, about 30-45 seconds.
  2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry or an orange peel.

Notes

  • Whiskey: Rye whiskey, the traditional choice for a Manhattan, has a spicy, aggressive flavor and its mash must be made from at least 51% rye. Bourbon is sweeter in flavor and its mash must be made from at least 51% corn. It also must be made in the United States to be called "bourbon."
  • Sweet vermouth: A fortified wine (made from grapes) that tastes sweet and bitter with notes of botanicals (herbs, roots, and barks) and caramel.
  • Cherry: I prefer Luxardo brand cherries or brandied cherries in a Manhattan. 
  • Yield: This recipe makes 1 cocktail.
  • Glassware: The Manhattan is traditionally served in a cocktail glass (similar to a martini glass) or a coupe glass.
  • Big batch: To make a batch of 8 cocktails, combine 16 ounces (2 cups) whiskey, 8 ounces (1 cup) sweet vermouth, and 20 dashes bitters in a pitcher. Have ice, glassware, and garnishes on hand so guests can help themselves.
  • Garnish: Instead of the maraschino cherry, an orange peel is another classic garnish. Some creative mixologists will substitute a lemon peel.
  • Cherry juice: For extra sweetness, add a splash of maraschino cherry juice.
  • Shaken, not stirred: For a frothy surface, shake the cocktail with ice in a shaker before straining into a chilled glass.
  • Brooklyn cocktail: Substitute 1/2 ounce (1 tbsp.) EACH dry vermouth and maraschino liqueur for the sweet vermouth. Substitute Picon bitters for the angostura bitters.
  • Brandy Manhattan: Substitute brandy for the whiskey (especially popular in Wisconsin and Minnesota).
  • Cuban Manhattan: Substitute dark rum for the whiskey.
  • Dry Manhattan: Substitute dry vermouth for the sweet vermouth and substitute a lemon twist for the maraschino cherry.
  • Perfect Manhattan: Equal parts sweet and dry vermouth.
  • Rob Roy: Substitute Scotch whisky for the rye whiskey.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1cocktail Calories 198kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 11g (4%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Monounsaturated Fat 1g Sodium 5mg (0%) Potassium 85mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 2IU (0%) Calcium 9mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1cocktail

Amount Per Serving

Calories 198 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1cocktail
Calories 198kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Potassium 85mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 9g 18%
Vitamin A 2IU 0%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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Overall Rating

5.0

6 reviews
Excellent

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