Manhattan Cocktail

Here are the secrets to the best Manhattan cocktail recipe! This easy classic cocktail is made with just three ingredients.

Are you a fan of the Manhattan cocktail? This sophisticated whiskey drink has a long history and has stood the test of time. With only three ingredients, there’s so much going on in one sip! Hints of vanilla, oak and caramel come from the bourbon, sweet and spicy from the vermouth, and a bitter and herby nuance from the bitters. When we want a truly classic cocktail, this is one we’ll reach for (well, or a whiskey sour or gin fizz). Here are the Manhattan cocktail ingredients and how to make a truly stellar drink.

Manhattan cocktail ingredients

The Manhattan cocktail goes all the way back to the 1870’s, so it’s older than many cocktails that sprung up in the 1920’s and 30’s. The story goes that the drink was invented at a club called The Manhattan Club in New York City, hence the name. The Manhattan is a classic cocktail on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. This means that there’s an official definition for the Manhattan cocktail ingredients:

• Rye whiskey
• Sweet red vermouth
• Angostura bitters
• Luxardo cocktail cherry for the garnish

Let’s chat through each of the ingredients, shall we?

The whiskey: rye vs bourbon

The traditional way to make a Manhattan is with rye whiskey. Rye whiskey has a spicier flavor than bourbon, which is sweeter. Personally we prefer the sweeter flavor of bourbon here, which we feel makes a smoother, more balanced Manhattan. But feel free to use whatever suits your tastes! Some great bourbon options are Elijah Craig Small Batch or Woodford Reserve. Or use a locally distilled option if you have one! We used a local bourbon for this one (Hotel Tango in Indianapolis).

In general, we prefer the taste of bourbon whiskey to rye in cocktails. We use bourbon in our Whiskey Sour and Old Fashioned recipes. Love Scotch? Go ahead and make a Manhattan with Scotch whisky: it’s called a Rob Roy! See below for more Manhattan variations.

All about vermouth!

Vermouth is a fortified wine, meaning that liquor has been added to stabilize it. Other types of fortified wines are Port, Sherry or Madeira. There are two main types of vermouth: sweet (usually red) and dry (usually white).

• Sweet vermouth is subtly sweet and spicy, with a hit of bitter on the finish. It’s used in many classic cocktails: most famously the Manhattan cocktail! It’s also used in the Negroni and Americano.
• Dry white vermouth tastes like a dry white wine. It’s used in martinis, like the Classic Martini or Dirty Martini.

You can mix vermouth in cocktails, or you can drink sweet vermouth on the rocks as an aperitif. When we visited Spain, we loved drinking Spanish vermouth on the rocks: it has an even sweeter flavor: almost like cola! Store vermouth in the refrigerator, where it will stay good for up to 3 months.

Angostura bitters add complexity

Angostura bitters are popularly used in cocktails to add a complex and bitter undertone! If you’ve never used them, grab a bottle and shake a dash or two into a drink. It goes from one-note to extraordinarily complex with just a few drops. That’s because bitters are made with herbs and spices: it adds intrigue because the flavors are not easily recognizable.

Angostura bitters are one of the most popular in drinks and easy to find. They get the name from their manufacturer: the House of Angostura in Trinidad and Tobago. (Read more here.) Other cocktails that use Angostura bitters? The Old Fashioned, Toronto, Trinidad Sour and Champagne Cocktail.

Top the Manhattan with a cherry…a Luxardo cherry!

The garnish is an important part of any cocktail: especially classic cocktails! It’s not really a classic cocktail without the garnish, right? The garnish for a Manhattan cocktail is a Luxardo cherry.

Luxardo cherries are a cocktail cherry, but they’re so dark red they almost look black. They don’t taste anything like a Maraschino: their flavor is complex, fruity, and nutty almost like amaretto. It’s exactly what you need for this classic cocktail. Where to find Luxardo cherries? It’s easiest to get them online.

How to make a Manhattan

Once you’ve gathered all the ingredients, the easy part is making the Manhattan cocktail! This three ingredient cocktail takes only a few minutes to make. Here are a few notes on what to do:

• Stir together all ingredients in a cocktail mixing glass. Shaking the drink in a cocktail shaker would dilute it too much. A cocktail mixing glass is used for “stirred” cocktails that are spirit-forward and served without ice, like the Manhattan and Martini.
• Don’t have one? You can use any glass or container you like to mix the drink, then strain it into the serving glass. But if you want to look like someone who knows their cocktails, grab yourself a cocktail mixing glass. (Plus, it just looks cool.)

Ready to try it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Manhattan variations

There are several popular variations on the Manhattan. Once you’ve made it the classic way, try these spins! Our personal favorites are with bourbon and brandy.

• Bourbon Manhattan Use bourbon for a sweeter Manhattan with notes of oak and vanilla.
• Brandy Manhattan A sophisticated spin on the classic cocktail recipe using brandy or Cognac.
• Black Manhattan Swap in an Italian amaro for the sweet vermouth.
• Rob Roy Make a Manhattan with Scotch instead of rye whiskey.
• Brooklyn A unique spin with Maraschino liqueur and bitters.
• Revolver A tasty variation with Tia Maria coffee liqueur.
• Martinez A gin version of a Manhattan using Maraschino liqueur.

When to serve a Manhattan cocktail

The Manhattan cocktail is a sophisticated and complex whiskey cocktail. It’s perfect for sipping as a:

• Happy hour drink
• Dinner party drink
• Late night drinks drink
• Guys or girls night drink
• Cocktail hour drink

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More whiskey cocktails

We’ve got lots of great whiskey cocktails and bourbon cocktails for you to choose from! Here are our favorites:

• Favorite Whiskey Sour Perfectly balanced and so easy to make!
• Classic Old Fashioned The oldest cocktail there is! A truly timeless drink. See also: the Manhattan vs Old Fashioned
• Whiskey Smash Tangy and refreshing — like a citrus spin on the Mint Julep.
• Boulevardier A stunning classic cocktail! A spin on the Negroni swapping gin for whiskey.
• Sazerac The official cocktail of New Orleans! Cognac, whiskey and absinthe make this famous drink.
• Toronto Cocktail Pairs the depth of whiskey with the intrigue of Fernet-Branca liqueur.
• Penicillin A modern classic starring Scotch, honey, lemon and ginger.
• Vieux Carre Strong and sippable with whiskey, Cognac and vermouth.
• A few others to try? Brown Derby, Kentucky Mule, Alabama Slammer, or Paper Plane.

Last updated: March 2021