Calling all whiskey lovers, this one is for you! You can never go wrong with a classic drink, especially when it's this Perfect Manhattan Cocktail recipe.
Classic cocktails are something that everyone should know how to make and this Perfect Manhattan Cocktail recipe is one of our favorites.
If you have never tried to make one at home. We took the guess work out of it and have the perfect recipe.
It's easy to make, fantastic to drink, and so much fun to enjoy with friends. Not to mention, the ability to make bar-worthy classic cocktails at home is the secret to being a great host or hostess.
History of the drink
Legend has it that is was invented in the 1870's by Dr. Ian Marshall at the Manhattan Club in New York City for a banquet hosted by Lady Randolph Churchill (the mother of Winston).
After the banquet, the drink became very fashionable. Since it did not have a name, people started referring to it as the Manhattan Cocktail because of the club where it was first served.
Ingredients
Making your own manhattan cocktail is easy. You don't need to have a full professional bar to make this old school cocktail classic. With just a few simple ingredients, you can feel like a sophisticated aristocrat in no time:
- whiskey
- vermouth
- bitters
- cherries
Instructions
You barely need any time to make this Manhattan cocktail recipe. All you need is a few glasses of your choice and a good stir stick, and you're set!
Step 1: Place a few ice cubes in a low ball glass.
Step 2: Add whiskey/bourbon, vermouth, bitter and cherry juice.
Step 3: Stir
Step 4: Garnish with cherries.
Cheers!
That's seriously all you have to do! This cocktail recipe is proof that fun cocktails don't have to be complicated to make.
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FAQs
To put it simply, it's essentially a whiskey martini. There are several variations on the drink, but our personal favorite is this Perfect Manhattan.
That's easy: pick your favorite.
You can use Canadian Whisky, American Whiskey (Bourbon or Rye) or even Scotch.
We are partial to bourbon, particularly Maker’s Mark, Bulleit, or a new favorite, Rowan’s Creek Small Batch Bourbon.
However you pour it you can't go wrong!
In simple terms, whiskey is a spirit distilled from fermented grain mash. What makes each type of whiskey different is the type of grain used. The different grains used include wheat, rye, barley, and corn.
Bourbon is considered to be a bit different because it is an American whiskey, and it has its own specifications of what makes it bourbon. It must be made in the US, be 51% corn and not contain any added flavoring, coloring or additives.
Variations
There are several different variations of this classic drink. If you love this whiskey and bourbon, then be sure to try out all the different variations to see which one you love the most.
- Perfect Manhattans use both sweet and dry vermouth and garnishes with a cherry.
- Dry Manhattans only use dry vermouth and replaces the cherry garnish with a twist.
- A Rob Roy uses scotch whiskey.
- Brandy Manhattans use brandy instead of whiskey.
Recipe
Perfect Manhattan Cocktail
Ingredients
- 3 ounces whiskey or bourbon
- ½ ounce dry vermouth
- ½ ounce sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 bar spoonful cherry juice from Maraschino or Luxardo cherries
- 2 Maraschino or Luxardo cherries for garnish
Instructions
- Place ice cubes in a low ball glass and add first five ingredients.
- Stir and garnish with cherries.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.
More Whiskey Cocktails
Try out a few more whiskey drinks that we know you'll love! Here are a few of our personal favorites.
Find all of our whiskey drinks in our archives.
You can never go wrong with a classic. This Manhattan cocktail recipe is filled with Bourbon, cherry, bitters, and vermouth and is always a whiskey lover's favorite cocktail.
The glass is very important to me. Where can I find the glass used in your presentation ?
Hi John, The glass we used was a Waterford crystal glass! Hope that helps!
What is the difference between a Manhattan and a Old Fashion
Hi Gail, An Old Fashioned usually has whiskey, bitters, and sugar and a Manhattan uses sweet vermouth in place of the sugar. Hope that helps!
Black Manhattan with Brandy is over the top
2 parts rye whiskey 1 part Averna (Amaro Siciliano). 2 dashes black bitters
Teaspoon Black cheery juice and black cherry
You’ll think you died and went to heaven!
What a great post, I love a well made Manhatten! And thank you for including my Peach Bourbon Smash as one of the other whiskey cocktails to enjoy. Cheers!
I'm so happy that I saw this beauty! What a beautiful beverage just made for sipping! I'm a bourbon girl and all of a sudden I've just got to have me a Manhattan. Thank you for sharing our Bootleg version!
I make my Manhattan with Woodford Reserve bourbon. With sweet vermouth , bitters, a little cherry juice. I garnish with a half moon slice of orange and cherry,with a the cherry in the middle of the orange and a pick though both orange and cherry. Makes a beautiful presentation.
The way I hear it, the Manhattan got its name from the recipe:
2 parts whiskey
1 part vermouth
2 dashes of bitters...
212 - the area code of Manhattan!
Try Southern Comfort as a bourbon/whiskey replacement----A lot sweeter but very nice as a before dinner cocktail
I so want to like Manhattans since I love bourbon and whiskey, but the vermouth is always so... vermouthy. I'll have to try the smaller proportions here of vermouth!
This is one of my husband's favorites!! Hope you like it! Cheers!
I never SHAKE a Manhattan. It causes the drink to appear cloudy which diminishes from the overall look. It’s especially important not to shake when serving it up in a Martini glass.
The last time I asked for a Manhattan, the waitress came back and warned me that this drink was a little strong. "I love it that way," I replied. So when she ask how the drink was, I replied, "It could not be better"! By the way, I ordered it with Crown Royal. When I ordered another one, I ask if she could have the bar maid make this one, the exact same as the first one. She said "Of course"!
To my surprise, when she brought the second drink back, she also brought the barmaid back so I could talk to her directly about her exact recipe. Basically, what she told me to do was to always order "the perfect Manhattan"!
She told me, after I asked, that she did not use bitters, and only a dash of sweet vermouth.
So, to this day, this is how I order my "Perfect Manhatan", to this day... Basicily, just 3 ingredients, as opposed to 5 ingredients in the recipe. Your choice of whiskey, a dash of sweet vermouth, and a cherry, or 2. Plus, I usually put a few drops of cherry juice in also!
And now, it's time for that "Perfect Manhatan"!
How do you have a perfect Manhattan recipe on a site called garnish with lemon and put cherries in it? Rim the glass with the peel and garnish - always.
Love your spin, Ken. Thanks for stopping by, my husband is a Perfect Manhattan with Cherries kind of guy, but I'll have him try it with lemon sometime!