Classic Manhattan Cocktail

Called a classic for a reason, the classic Manhattan cocktail always delivers a smooth, bold blend of whiskey, sweet vermouth and aromatic bitters. It’s a smooth, sweet and spirit-forward sipper. Made with either rye or bourbon whiskey, this timeless evening cocktail is easy enough to make at home and elegant enough to elevate any special occasion.

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About this Manhattan cocktail recipe

Classic cocktails are worthy of the title because they are tried-and-true favorites. The Manhattan is probably as classic as you can get — tied only with the martini.

If you’re new to Manhattans, you should know right now that this is not a beverage for the faint of heart! It’s a strong, serious, Mad Men-esque cocktail.

Though it’s typically made with rye whiskey, I like the Manhattan better with bourbon as I find it makes it a bit sweeter and easier on my palate. (It’s also the Southern way to do it, which is totally fine by me.)

Try the Manhattan both ways — with rye whiskey and with bourbon — and decide how you like it!

More whiskey recipes: Old-Fashioned Cocktail • Whiskey Sour • Penicillin • Vieux Carré • Milk Punch

Why you’ll love this recipe

Whiskey lovers, this one is for you!

• The Manhattan is a classic drink every whiskey drinker needs to know.
• It’s an easy drink that anyone can make.
• The recipe is very customizable with different types of whiskey and sweeteners.

What is a Manhattan drink?

Named for the borough of New York City, the Manhattan drink is a classic cocktail made with whiskey, sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters. The whiskey of choice is usually rye or bourbon.

Stirred with ice, it’s served either straight up in a coupe glass or cocktail glass or over ice in a rocks glass, and it’s often garnished with a maraschino cherry or a twist of orange peel.

History

According to Difford’s Guide, the Manhattan dates back to the late 1800s. The recipe was first published in the 1884 The Modern Bartender’s Guide by O.H. Byron, then three other recipe books the same year.

Like many classic cocktails, there’s some dispute as to its origin, but many stories point to the Manhattan Club in the 1870s. Another account comes from a fellow bartender, William F. Mulhall, in the 1923 Valentine’s Manual of New York, crediting the drink to a “man named Black.” Mulhall worked at New York’s prestigious Hoffman House beginning in the 1880s.

Cocktail expert and historian David Wondrich researched address books and newspapers from that time period and found a bar owned by a man named George Black — the Manhattan Inn. It can be reasoned that Black created the Manhattan cocktail, naming the drink for his own bar.

Tools & glassware

You don’t need much to make a Manhattan cocktail. A mixing glass and a bar spoon are the basics needed — not a cocktail shaker. (However, I’ve been known to use a shaker as a mixing glass now and then.) Plus some ice cubes to chill the mixture.

Manhattans are usually served two ways:

1. neat, meaning without ice, in a coupe glass, martini glass or other cocktail glass like a nick & nora glass.
2. on the rocks, or with ice, in a rocks glass.

To make an orange peel garnish, you’ll want a vegetable peeler, and you may want cocktail picks for the cocktail cherries.

manhattan essentials

classic coupe glasses

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mixing glass

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luxardo cherries

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Ingredients

Unlike the subway system of the city it’s named for, the Manhattan is pretty simple. To make a Manhattan, you’ll need:

• bourbon or rye whiskey: Either type of American whiskey can be used. Rye is more classic with a bite, while bourbon is sweeter.
• sweet Italian vermouth: Also called red vermouth, this fortified wine has a sweet flavor that complements the whiskey. Dolin Rouge and Martini & Rossi are two common brands.
• aromatic bitters: Angostura bitters are the most well-known brand, but any kind of bitters will add some delicious flavor.

Garnishes

Garnish a Manhattan with a twist of an orange peel or a brandied cherry. Use a vegetable peeler or channel knife to cut a piece of peel from an orange, aiming to capture as little white pith as possible. A lemon twist is also used sometimes.

For cocktail cherries, skip the bright red maraschino cherries and instead go for cocktail cherries, which have a more natural flavor and color. Luxardo cherries are my favorite, but you can even make your own!

favorite cocktail cherries

luxardo cherries

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amarena cherries

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bourbon cherries

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Best whiskey for Manhattans

Manhattans can contain either rye whiskey or bourbon whiskey, and the choice is up to you! (Personally, I love a rye Manhattan, but both are delicious!) Rye and bourbon are both types of whiskey, but they differ in key ingredients, flavor profiles and regulations.

Bourbon must be made from at least 51% corn, giving it a sweeter, richer taste with notes of caramel, vanilla and oak, and it must be aged in new charred oak barrels.

Rye whiskey, on the other hand, must contain at least 51% rye grain, resulting in a spicier, drier flavor with hints of pepper, cinnamon and sometimes a touch of fruitiness.

Bourbon is a popular choice because it has a smoothness and sweetness, but rye’s bold, zesty character makes the Manhattan punchier. Most American whiskey brands produce both rye and bourbon. For bourbons, I usually keep Woodford Reserve, Old Forester and Angel’s Envy on my bar cart. For ryes, I love Knob Creek, Buffalo Trace and Bulleit and usually have at least one around!

Manhattan variations

There are a few kinds of Manhattan cocktails. The one here uses sweet vermouth and either rye or bourbon whiskey, but if you switch these up, they’re called something else entirely:

• Rob Roy cocktail: If you make this drink with Scotch whisky instead, it goes by another name — the Rob Roy!
• Dry Manhattan: With dry vermouth (white) instead of sweet (red), the drink will be less sweet with a crisp, slightly herbal flavor.
• Perfect Manhattan: This one is a cross between the classic and the dry, using half dry vermouth and half sweet vermouth.

Substitutions

Try one of the classic Manhattan variations or mix things up with one of these substitutions:

Try different kinds of whiskey: Try both the rye and bourbon versions to find your fave. Another idea is to use an infused whiskey like salted caramel whiskey or cinnamon whiskey. My friend’s amazing Pecan Pie Manhattan calls for a toasted pecan- and vanilla-infused bourbon.

Non-alcoholic Manhattan: Use a zero-proof spirit that tastes like whiskey, such as Ritual whiskey alternative or my homemade version made with bourbon barrel-infused tea. For the vermouth, use a non-alcoholic red vermouth. Be sure to use non-alcoholic bitters, too! (If you try making a non-alcoholic Manhattan, let me know how it goes! I’ve not tried it, but this is how I would do it.)

Maple Manhattan: Mix in a little bit of maple syrup for a sweeter version, or use a maple-flavored whiskey.

Instructions

Let’s make ourselves a classic Manhattan drink! It’s super simple.

First, combine the whiskey and the red vermouth in a mixing glass. (If you don’t have one, you can stir them together in any glass, and even a cocktail shaker, though resist the urge to shake up this one!)

Add a few ice cubes and stir gently. Strain it into a chilled cocktail glass like a coupe glass, neat (without ice) or a rocks glass filled with ice — ideally, a large clear ice cube.

Tips & tricks

Take your Manhattans up a notch with these tips:

• Stir — don’t shake — your Manhattans! These spirit-forward cocktails will get too diluted if shaken, so stir gently instead.
• Sample the Manhattan with both bourbon and rye to see how this simple cocktail changes. Which one is your favorite?!
• Try out different kinds of bitters to enhance the flavor. Orange and cinnamon bitters would both be delicious.
• Keep your open vermouth in the fridge!

Food pairings

Manhattans are sweet, so they go well with salty and cheesy foods. A simple cheese and charcuterie board is the ultimate classy snack to match the elegance of the Manhattan.

Sweet-and-salty treats are perfect too. Try some cranberry brie bites for another delicious appetizer or make a batch of salted bourbon rice krispie treats.

FAQ

More classic cocktail recipes

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