Manhattan
Average
Spirits palpable
3 Minutes
Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
The Manhattan is one of the most famous cocktails of all time. “An easy drink to make but a difficult drink to master,” explains Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.
The allure of the Manhattan transcends generations, making it a favorite in upscale lounges and trendy bars. But, make no mistake, its appeal extends beyond these external settings. So, if you want to infuse some sophistication into your dinner parties, this is your drink.
The fact is, no matter where it’s served, the Manhattan continues to captivate discerning palates decade after decade and remains a symbol of refined indulgence and sophistication.
How To Make a MANHATTAN COCKTAIL
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Mixing Glass
Julep Strainer
Bar Spoon
How to Mix
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Add Ice Cubes to a Mixing Glass.
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Use a Jigger to measure and pour Sweet Vermouth into the Mixing Glass, followed by Bitters and Rye Whiskey.
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Use a Bar Spoon and stir the cocktail until perfectly cold.
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Place a Julep Strainer over the top of the Mixing Glass and strain the cocktail into a Cocktail Glass.
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Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry.
Rico shows how to make a classic Manhattan cocktail!
All about the Manhattan Cocktail
The Manhattan is renowned cocktail revered as one of the most famous drinks of all time. Originating in the late 19th century and becoming a cornerstone of cocktail culture, this spirit-forward cocktail has secured its place as a timeless classic with its enduring popularity.
Although the Manhattan cocktail has an undeniable allure and association with all that’s elegant, you shouldn’t let this intimidate you! No, it’s a surprisingly easy to make cocktail with just three key ingredients. Of course, the key to crafting and mastering a great Manhattan lies in the quality of the ingredients and making sure they marry together.
Being a spirit-forward cocktail, you get all the flavors and aromas of the Rye Whisky, the flavors and aromas of the sweet Vermouth rich, complex flavor profile.
Like many other cocktails, the history of this drink is surrounded by various stories and fables, but none of them can be confirmed.
Considered one of the first modern cocktails, some of the earliest records of the drink can be found in two cocktail books written in 1884.
The most widely believed story is that the drink was created at a club in New York City in the mid-1870s for a banquet held in honor of a presidential candidate at the time, and its popularity led to it being referred to as “the Manhattan cocktail.”
However, there are earlier references to similar cocktails in the Manhattan area, with one account attributing its invention to a bartender named Black in the 1860s at a bar near Broadway and Houston Street. The Manhattan is, in fact, one of the five cocktails named after a New York City borough and is closely related to The Brooklyn.
Transcending generations, the Manhattan is a timeless drink that has deserved its place as a staple in cocktail culture.
- Stir Until Ice Cold
Rico recommends stirring the drink until ice-cold and you achieve “the perfect dilution”. What’s the perfect dilution? The perfect dilution is when you taste it and, well, you like it! - No Dry Vermouth
A tip from Rico: “Don’t use Dry Vermouth in your Manhattan – just don’t. Just drink it with Sweet (Vermouth). That’s how it should be done.” - Stirred, Never Shaken
A Manhattan should always be stirred and never shaken to avoid the cocktail from foaming.
- Apple Manhattan
For this variation, we use Bourbon instead of Rye Whiskey and replace the Sweet Vermouth and Cherry garnish with Apple Liqueur and an Apple garnish. The blend of sweet Bourbon and the tartness of the Apple Liqueur is a match made in heaven. Discover our Apple Manhattan recipe. - The Comfort Manhattan
Replace Rye Whiskey with Peach-Flavored Bourbon and you’ve got a deliciously peachy Comfort Manhattan. Here’s how to make The Comfort Manhattan cocktail. - Caramel Manhattan
Imagine mixing Irish Whiskey with Pineapple Juice, Caramel Syrup, Sweet Vermouth, a dash of Bitters and garnished with a Pineapple Wedge. Sounds heavenly, huh? You’re going to love our Caramel Manhattan recipe. - Champagne Manhattan
Use Orange Bitters and add some deliciously crisp Champagne to your Manhattan while leaving off the Cherry garnish and you’ve got yourself one playful and oh-so-elegant drink. Check out our recipe for a Champagne Manhattan. - Cuban Manhattan
How about adding a Cuban flair to your drink? Swap the Rye Whiskey for Cuban Rum and replace the Cherry with an Orange Twist for a taste that will have your tastebuds dancing the salsa! Let us show you how to make a Cuban Manhattan. - Latin Manhattan
Love the rhyme, love the taste. Like the Cuban Manhattan above, this drink uses Cuban Rum instead of Rye Whiskey but everything else stays the same as a classic Manhattan. Discover our recipe for a Latin Manhattan. - Mr. Manhattan
Here’s another great variation that uses Gin in place of Rye Whiskey plus Orange Juice, a dash of Lemon Juice and Mint Leaves for a unique and delightful twist. Here’s how to make a Mr. Manhattan cocktail.
- As you’ll see in the video on this recipe page, Rico uses a Martini Glass as his Manhattan cocktail glass of choice. While the names Cocktail Glass and Martini Glass are often used interchangeably, a Martini Glass is, in fact, slightly larger, with a more tapered rather than rounded shape, features a longer stem, and has a wider rim. The choice is yours!
- The garnish is where you can get a little creative with your Manhattan. Sure, you can use simple Cocktail Cherries, but we recommend garnishing with Maraschino Cherries.
- Don’t have Maraschino Cherries at home? Make your own! As Rico explains, “You can also just use fresh Cherries but soak them for 24 hours in a solution of Simple Syrup and alcohol and you’ll end up making your own Maraschino Cherries.” Voila!
- Garnish with a single cherry dropped straight into your drink. Now that’s how to drink a Manhattan cocktail!
“Don’t use dry vermouth in your Manhattan – just don’t. Drink it with sweet vermouth – that’s how it should be done.
Bartender and Global Brand Ambassador
Manhattan Cocktail FAQ
Although both drinks are similar, they are also quite different. In our recipe for an Old Fashioned, we use Bourbon, while our Manhattan uses Rye Whiskey. The Manhattan uses Sweet Vermouth but the Old Fashioned does not. Lastly, the Old Fashioned uses Orange Zest for garnish while the Manhattan uses a Cherry. Let us show you how to make an Old Fashioned.
Yes, you can but it’s worth noting that variations made with Bourbon result in a slightly sweeter drink, while those with Rye Whiskey lean towards a drier and spicier profile. We prefer Rye Whiskey.
