There’s a reason the Manhattan cocktail appears on most bar menus: It’s a simple, balanced whiskey drink that always hits the spot. Requiring just a few home-bar staples, it’s also truly easy to make on your own. You can’t go wrong with the original Manhattan drink recipe, which features peppery rye whiskey mixed with sweet red vermouth and is finished with a few dashes of Angostura bitters. (Early versions sometimes called for a different vermouth, gum syrup for sweetness and richness, and orange bitters or orange liqueur.) Today, variations for every palate abound.
Swap out the rye for bourbon to achieve a richer, rounder flavor, or combine equal parts sweet and dry vermouths for what’s known as a “Perfect” Manhattan. Punch up the vermouth with bitter amaro to make a Little Italy, or switch the spirit to smokier scotch to make a Rob Roy. And though we like to finish with a maraschino cherry (opt for lush Luxardo cherries over the candy-sweet neon red version), we know the syrupy fruit isn’t for everyone. You can always take a cue from another cocktail legend, the old fashioned, and garnish your Manhattan with an orange peel instead.
A classic Manhattan cocktail recipe deserves the right glassware. Since this drink is usually served “up,” we recommend using a coupe or Nick & Nora glass (a traditional martini glass can feel unwieldy). If you’d like to plop some ice into your drink, a rocks glass works too.
Editor’s note: The recipe was originally published March 2007. Head over here for more classic cocktails →
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