Calling all whiskey lovers, this one is for you! You can never go wrong with a classic especially when it is the Perfect Manhattan Cocktail.
Everyone should know how to serve classic cocktails, even if it isn’t your drink of choice. This Perfect Manhattan Cocktail is a great example. Now, I’m not a whiskey drinker myself, but I can make a mean Manhattan, and you should be able to as well. After all, being able to serve things you wouldn’t drink yourself is a secret to being a great hostess.
What is a Manhattan Cocktail?
To put it simply, a Manhattan is essentially a whiskey martini. There are several variations on the Manhattan, but Kevin’s personal favorite is this Perfect Manhattan.
Here’s a little history on this classic cocktail. Legend has it that the Manhattan Cocktail was invented in the 1870’s by Dr. Ian Marshall at The Manhattan Club in New York City at a banquet hosted by Lady Randolph Churchill (the mother of Winston Churchill). The drink became enormously fashionable as a result of that banquet, and, since the cocktail was not named then, people started referring it to as the Manhattan Cocktail because it was first served at The Manhattan Club.
What ingredients do you need to make a Perfect Manhattan cocktail?
- Whiskey
- Vermouth (Dry and Sweet)
- Cherries + Cherry Juice
- Bitters
How easy is that? Only 5 ingredients, all of which we always have in our refrigerator.
What are the different types of Manhattan recipes?
There are several different variations of this classic drink.
- A Perfect Manhattan uses both sweet and dry vermouth and garnishes with a cherry
- A Dry Manhattan only uses dry vermouth and replaces the cherry garnish with a twist.
- A Rob Roy uses scotch whiskey
- A Brandy Manhattan uses brandy instead of whiskey.
What kind of whiskey do you use in a Perfect Manhattan Cocktail recipe?
That’s easy: pick your favorite. You can use Canadian Whisky, American Whiskey (Bourbon or Rye) or even Scotch.
Kevin is partial to Bourbon, particularly Maker’s Mark, Bulleit, or his new favorite Rowan’s Creek Small Batch Bourbon.
However you pour it, you can’t go wrong with a classic.
Cheers.
Perfect Manhattan Cocktail
Ingredients
- 3 ounces Whiskey (I prefer Bourbon)
- 1 capful Dry Vermouth
- 1 capful Sweet Vermouth
- 1 dash of Angostura Bitters
- 2 drops of cherry juice (from Maraschino Cherries)
- 2 Maraschino Cherries, for garnish
Instructions
Place ice cubes in a low ball glass and add first five ingredients.
Stir and garnish with cherries.
Notes
This is a great to experiment with new brands of bourbon!
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!
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”!
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.
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!
Try Southern Comfort as a bourbon/whiskey replacement—-A lot sweeter but very nice as a before dinner cocktail
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!
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.