Craft the perfect Manhattan cocktail with this easy yet refined recipe. Featuring rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and aromatic bitters, this stirred classic is served straight up with a cherry garnish. A sophisticated drink ideal for evening sipping or upscale entertaining.
Chill the glass: Place a coupe or Nick & Nora glass in the freezer to chill while you prepare the drink.
Build in mixing glass: Add rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters into a mixing glass filled with ice.
Stir: Stir for about 30 seconds, until well-chilled and slightly diluted.
Strain: Remove your chilled glass from the freezer and strain the cocktail into it.
Garnish: Drop a Luxardo cherry into the glass or skewer it on a pick for a classic finish.
Charcuterie board with aged cheese
Dark chocolate truffles
Grilled steak bites or sliders
Duck confit or roasted mushrooms
Prosciutto-wrapped dates
The Manhattan pairs beautifully with rich, umami-packed bites or anything that complements deep caramel and spice notes.
Use rye for spice, bourbon for sweetness: Rye whiskey offers a drier, spicier profile; bourbon gives a softer, rounder sweetness.
Choose a high-quality vermouth: Carpano Antica or Dolin Rouge enhance complexity.
Don’t over-dilute: Stir just enough to chill and dilute without watering down flavor.
Serve it up, not on the rocks: A true Manhattan is best served in a chilled glass without ice.
Originating in the 1870s at New York’s Manhattan Club, the Manhattan is one of the oldest cocktails in history. Its structure has influenced countless others — and it remains a pillar of the classic cocktail canon.
1 servings