Manhattan

Manhattan
Joe | Last Updated: April 23, 2023
I'm Joe, a veteran bartender with over a decade in the industry and a burning passion for mixing drinks.

The Manhattan cocktail is a popular drink that is said to have originated at the Manhattan Club in New York City in the mid-1870s.

It’s a delicious drink that is made from whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters, giving this drink a slight bitter taste with some herbal undertones.

Follow the below recipe to crafty the perfect Manhattan cocktail.

Ingredients

  • 60ml x Rye whiskey
  • 30ml x Sweet vermouth
  • 2 dashes x Angostura bitters

Garnish:

  • Brandied cherry or lemon twist

How To Make

  1. Add the Rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and into a mixing glass that is ¾ full of ice
  2. Stirr with your bar spoon until the mixture is well chilled (usually 20-seconds or so)
  3. Strain the mixture into your chilled coupe or martini cocktail glass
  4. Garnish with your brandied cherry or lemon twist
  5. Enjoy

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About The Manhattan

The Manhattan cocktail is a timeless classic, and it’s one that has been enjoyed since the 1800s to the present day, and for good reason.

It’s a cocktail that all bartenders should master, but be sure to NEVER shake this cocktail in a shaker and to always use a mixing glass.

It’s said that a bartender created this drink when Jennie Churchill (mother of Winston Churchill) threw a party for her father’s friend, elected Governor of New York, Samuel James Tildon.

The Manhattan has quite literally been described as the greatest cocktail on the face of the Earth, and I’m not one to disagree.

Whether you’re trying to impress your friends at your home bar or are working a fancy cocktail bar, the Manhattan is a classic and one that bartenders alike should learn to make.

So give this recipe a go by following the steps set out above and you’ll be well on your way to crafting a delicious Manhattan cocktail.