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Manhattan

2 oz Rye (or bourbon)

Instructions

Stir, strain, straight-up, cocktail glass, garnish.

Notes

Some recipes call for only 3/4 oz of vermouth for a stiffer, less sweet Manhattan. Use Carpano Antica make a complex and interesting version.

Cocktail summary

Posted by Dan on 5/12/2021

Created by

Jerry Thomas, The Bar-Tender's Guide, or earlier.

Year

1887

Is an

altered recipe

Reference

Gary Regan, The Joy of Mixology

Curator

Not yet rated

Average

4.5 stars

(92 ratings)

YieldsDrink

Rye, Sweet vermouth, Bitters, Cherry

PT5M

PT0M

Cocktail

craft, alcoholic

4.38043 92

Cocktail Book

From other users

Better with bourbon
Always with Rye, the spicier the better!
Personal favorite: 2 oz Bulleit, 1/2 oz Carpano Antica, 1 ds Fee Brothers, 1 bs Luxardo maraschino liqueur, Luxardo cherry garnish.
Bit too strong for cheap bourbon
I had my first Manhattan in The Club Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park in New York City. My Preference: Rittenhouse 100 Rye BIB with Cocchi Vermouth di Torino - Served on the Rocks
2.5oz Rittenhouse 1oz Carpano Antica Formula 2 dashes Angostura
Very nice. Want to try Perfect (half Dry/Half sweet vermouth) at some point.
Along the Bourbon Trail Sub 1 oz vermouth with 1/2 oz sweet + 1/2 oz dry Garnish with lemon twist
Variation: a Perfect Manhattan, 2oz rye, 1/3oz sweet vermouth, 2/3oz dry vermouth, orange bitters. A less sweet, more interesting version.

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"How High the Moon" Manhattan — Rye, Sweet vermouth, Cherry shrub
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Blue Collar Cocktail — Rye, Sweet vermouth, Maraschino Liqueur, Orange bitters, Bitters, CioCiaro, Lemon peel
Caruso Cocktail (via Eric Felton) — Cognac, Sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, Bitters, Cherry
Old Number One — Apple brandy, Scotch, Sweet vermouth, Bitters, Cherry
My Black and Bitter Heart — Rye, Cognac, Sweet vermouth, Campari, Coffee liqueur, Bitters, Cherry
Eyetalian Cocktail — Rye, Cherry Liqueur, Sweet vermouth, Cynar, Maraschino Liqueur, Cherry, Blood orange peel
The Front Street — Rye, Ramazzotti, Sweet vermouth, Maraschino Liqueur, Maraschino cherry

Comments

christina in tacoma commented on 10/14/2011:

I had almost given up on Manhattans, until an awesome bartender made me one with Black Maple Hill Bourbon and Carpano Antica...

Beverage Nerds commented on 1/12/2012:

For our use: Maker's Mark bourbon, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth. Served on the rocks.

Sarar810@gmail.com commented on 10/14/2012:

Irish-Scots Manhattan variation: Use Irish whiskey (Jameson) and a heavy rinse (small puddle) of Islay Scotch (Lagavulin 16), plus a 3rd dash of Angostura. (Editor's note: posted on behalf of jughead to consolidate Manhattan recipes.)

tophat665 commented on 4/13/2013:

Finest kind. I prefer to make it with a half and half mix of Noilly Pratt Dry and Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, 1:4 with a mix of ryes (Pepper's 1776 and Old Overholt is nice) with orange and angostura bitters, and a lemon twist as well as the cherry.

Cocktailian commented on 4/15/2013:

Have you tried one w/ Maker's 46? That, Carpano Antica, and Bittercube Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters makes the most perfect Bourbon Manhattan

J.S-g. commented on 5/23/2016:

Tonight I tried a Perfect Manhattan with Bulleit Rye, Vermouth del Professore Rosso and Vermouth la Canellese along with one dash of Angostura and one dash of Peychaud's. Very nice, indeed.

jmedlong commented on 7/06/2018:

Tequila variant - Substitute 2oz reposado tequila for the whisky, and 2 dashes of Scrappy's Firewater Tincture for the bitters.