The Classic Manhattan Cocktail Recipe
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Nov 11, 2024 • 1 min read
While there are lots of opinions on what makes the perfect Manhattan cocktail—rye versus bourbon whiskey, the distinct brand of bitters, the balance of sweetness in a given vermouth—the end result is your Manhattan, perfectly calibrated to your palate.
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What Is a Manhattan?
The Manhattan, named for the New York City borough of its birth, is a cocktail made of two parts whiskey, one part sweet vermouth, and a few dashes of aromatic bitters. The Manhattan is stirred, not shaken, and garnished with a brandied cherry or two. There are many variations on the Manhattan cocktail, like swapping rum for whiskey, or Averna amaro for vermouth.
Classic Manhattan Recipe
makes
1 cocktailprep time
5 mintotal time
5 minIngredients
- 1
Add two handfuls of ice cubes to a cocktail mixing glass or shaker.
- 2
Add whiskey, vermouth, and bitters, to the glass and stir. You want the ingredients thoroughly, but gently, blended, and well-chilled, so stir for about two minutes.
- 3
Spoon one dark Luxardo cocktail cherry (with a bit of its syrup) into the base of a chilled cocktail glass, either a coupe or a martini glass. (If you’re using an old-fashioned glass, simply spear a few cherries onto a cocktail skewer, or opt for an orange peel.)
- 4
Strain the cocktail into the glass and enjoy.
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