Manhattan Cocktail

Whisky
Author: Yash Lakhan
A glass filled with a dark beverage and ice cubes sits on an orange surface with an orange background.

The Manhattan cocktail stands as a cornerstone of classic drinks - celebrated for its rich, spirit-forward character and timeless elegance. This legendary drink is methodically mixed with ice until chilled desirably before being strained ‘up’ or occasionally served over a huge ice cube.

What you’ll need

Ingredients

Serves:
1
  • Signature whisky (or any other whisky of choice)
    20ml
  • Sweet vermouth
    10ml
  • Aromatic bitters
    2ml
  • Ice cubes
    For stirring

Method

  1. Step 1

    Chill a coupe or rocks glass thoroughly by freezing it.

  2. Step 2

    In a mixing glass, combine the rye whisky, sweet vermouth and aromatic bitters.

  3. Step 3

    Pour ice cubes into the mixing glass, stir gently but constantly for 20-30 seconds, until well cooled and diluted.

  4. Step 4

    Strain the mixture into a chilled glass, garnish with a maraschino cherry or lemon peel twist and serve immediately.

Tips & Suggestions

  • When picking a whisky, examine the char level of the barrel - a higher char (level 4) whisky can produce toasted, caramelised notes that pair well with complex sweet vermouths.

  • Instead of relying exclusively on the sweetness of vermouth, add a single, exact drop of high-quality, dark maple syrup for subtle sweetness since it provides depth that complements both whisky and vermouth.

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