How Will You Take Your Manhattan? (2024)

co*cktails
Whiskey co*cktails

Colleen Graham

Freelance writer and co*cktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.

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Updated on 02/29/24

Tested by

Tom Macy

Tested byTom Macy

Tom wears many co*cktail hats. He is a professional bartender, bar owner, recipe creator, and drink writer, though he prefers the title "obsessive co*cktail nerd."

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What Is the Difference Between a Manhattan and an Old-Fashioned?

Both classic whiskey co*cktails, there are essential differences between a Manhattan and an old-fashioned. A Manhattan is a combination of whiskey and sweet vermouth with a few dashes of bitters. Anold-fashionedis a mixture of bourbon or whiskey, sugar, and bitters (no vermouth).

Your Complete Guide to Whiskey Styles

Choose Your Whiskey

The original Manhattan wasmade with rye whiskey. However, there was a period of time in the mid-to-late 1900s when rye was not readily available or high quality and it became common practiceto use a Canadian whiskey (often spelled "whisky" without the e in the Scottish tradition). Whenbourbon began to reclaim headlinesin the last decades of the 20th century, that became a popular choice and was the newly preferred whiskey for a Manhattan.

That said, the choice isultimately yours because it is your drink. For a sweeter Manhattan, go with bourbon. When you're in the mood for a dry and semi-spicy Manhattan, rye whiskey would be the choice. On those days when a smooth, soft Manhattan sounds good, pick up a bottle of Canadian whiskey.

What Is Vermouth?

The Whiskey to Vermouth Ratio

As with the martini, each drinker will have their preferred ratio of whiskey to vermouth. A 2:1 ratio is a good starting point and the most common mix for the Manhattan. Many drinkers also like a 4:1 mix with just 1/2 ounce of sweet vermouth for 2 ounces of whiskey. Play around with this ratio to find your personal idea of the perfect Manhattan. It's also likely that this will change depending on the particular whiskey you're pouring.

Don't Forget the Bitters

Aromatic bitters have long been the preferred accent for the Manhattan and it should be considered a required ingredient. Since we use just a few dashes at a time, it can be easy to forget their importance. However, they are the finishing touch that brings co*cktails like the Manhattan into perfect balance. There are a number of new bitters available today and you might want to explore their effects on your perfect Manhattan mix.

The Final Flourish: A Cherry for Garnish

A cherry is the classic garnish for a Manhattan. For the best Manhattan, choose an excellent co*cktail cherry and skip the florescent kind.

Ingredients

2 ouncesrye whiskey or bourbon or Canadian whiskey
1 ounce sweet vermouth
2 to 3 dashes aromatic bitters
Cherry, for garnish

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
Pour the whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters into a mixing glass with ice cubes.
Stir well.
Strain into a chilled co*cktail glass.
Garnish with the cherry. Serve and enjoy.

Recipe Variations

The Manhattan has inspired countless co*cktails over the years. You may also notice thatmany share only the whiskey in common with the original recipe. Just as the name "martini" is popular with fancy vodka and gin co*cktails and "margarita" is a common choice for tequila co*cktails, "Manhattan" has become synonymous with nearly any whiskey co*cktail that's served "up." Here are some of the best spins on the Manhattan:

Dry Manhattan:Use a dash of dry vermouth and garnish with a lemon twist.
Perfect Manhattan: Use equal parts sweet and dry vermouth and garnish with a lemon twist.
Rob Roy (aka Scotch Manhattan): This variation specifically calls for Scotch whisky.
Metropolitan (aka Brandy Manhattan):This co*cktail replaces the whiskey withbrandy.
Southern Comfort Manhattan:UseSouthern Comfortinstead of whiskey to get a hint of peach.

How to Make Manhattans for a Crowd

To make a large batch of Manhattans for a party, follow these steps:

Make one Manhattan and measure its volume in ounces before and after stirring with ice and straining. The difference between the numbers is the amount of water that is incorporated into the drink.
Multiply each ingredient, including the water, by the number of servings you want to make.
For the bitters, divide the number you got in Step Two by 2. Bitters tend to become more pronounced over time in batched co*cktails so you don't need to use as much.
Use the resulting numbers to help you figure out how many bottles of each ingredient you'll need to buy. Remember that drinks are usually sold in 750mL bottles. 750mL is approximately 25 1/4 ounces.
Once you have your ingredients, measure them out according to the math you did in Steps 2 and 3.
Mix the ingredients together, place in a serving vessel, and chill well.
To serve, measure out the amount of co*cktail you recorded in step 1 after being stirred with ice and strained. Garnish and serve.

Read more about how to batch co*cktails here.

How Strong Is a Manhattan?

The Manhattan is not a light co*cktail. It is a very liquor-forward co*cktail because it includesalcohol alone and is diluted with just a small amount of water during preparation. Assuming that an 80 proof whiskey is used, the average Manhattan is around 30 percentABV (60 proof). This is just slightly weaker than a straight shot of that same whiskey, so take it easy with this one.

How Do You Order a Manhattan at a Bar?

When ordering a Manhattan at the bar, you may want to "call" your whiskey of choice. Most bars will have a house whiskey that they regularly use in the co*cktail and it could be a rye, bourbon, or Canadian. You can always ask what they use and upgrade if you prefer something else. Be as specific as you like. For instance, you could either ask for aspecific brand in your Manhattanor a"bourbon Manhattan"(in this case you will get the house bourbon).

Classic co*cktails Every Drinker Should Try

Whiskey co*cktails
co*cktails
American Food

Recipe Tags:

Whiskey
manhattan
whiskey manhattan
american

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FAQs

How Will You Take Your Manhattan? ›

Traditionally, bartenders serve Manhattans in martini glasses garnished with maraschino cherries. Mixologists who want to serve Manhattans on the rocks opt for lowball or coupe glasses.

Tell Me More ›

How should a Manhattan be served? ›

Traditionally, bartenders serve Manhattans in martini glasses garnished with maraschino cherries. Mixologists who want to serve Manhattans on the rocks opt for lowball or coupe glasses.

Learn More ›

What if my Manhattan is too strong? ›

Quick tip: If your Manhattan is too strong for your liking, you can make the co*cktail more approachable in one of three ways, says Wibbels: 1. Ask for a lower-proof whiskey. Bourbon and rye vary in their proof — they can go as low as 80 proof and still be considered a bourbon or rye.

Show Me More ›

How strong is a Manhattan drink? ›

The Manhattan demands respect. It is brazen: a heavy pour of rye or bourbon, sweet vermouth, and aromatic bitters. It is rich, with strong flavors both spicier and sweeter. It is strong.

See Details ›

What is a traditional Manhattan drink made of? ›

The Manhattan has managed to remain one of the most popular co*cktails in the world for well over a century. A combination of whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters, and a maraschino cherry garnish, this drink embodies the classic, spirit-forward, and aromatic school of co*cktails.

Get More Info ›

What kind of person orders a Manhattan? ›

Drink Order: Manhattan

You have a touch of old-school charm, but a bit more courage than those who order an Old fashioned (the Manhattan's close cousin). This bourbon-based co*cktail – with its mix of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters – reveals your appreciation for complex though balanced flavors.

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What does it mean when someone says Manhattan served up? ›

What you were probably looking for was a Dry Martini, served “up. “Up” implies that there was some preparation involved, and that there is no ice in the final product. You can have a Manhattan on the rocks, or I can give it to you “up”.

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How to order a perfect Manhattan? ›

Manhattan

You may not know if you want a dry or perfect Manhattan if you don't know the difference: a perfect Manhattan will have equal parts sweet and dry vermouth, whereas a dry Manhattan actually just means to nix the sweet vermouth altogether and use dry vermouth instead.

Keep Reading ›

Can I order a Manhattan neat? ›

Sometimes people use the term “straight” interchangeably with “neat,” which is where the confusion begins so always check with the bartender just in case. Classic examples of drinks served straight up are a martini, manhattans, sidecars, sazeracs, pisco sours, and grasshoppers.

Learn More Now ›

What is the strongest drink at a bar? ›

While Hemingway suggests drinking “three to five of these slowly”, we would definitely have to disagree. And last on our list, but certainly not the least (amount of alcohol, that is), we have the Aunt Roberta. This co*cktail contains 100% liquor and is widely regarded as THE strongest co*cktail in the world.

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Do you shake or stir a Manhattan? ›

Instead of using the classic co*cktail shaker to blend the ingredients in a Manhattan, the drink should be stirred together using a spoon. Shaking or blending your co*cktail will dilute the drink and diminish the flavour of Manhattan, whereas using a spoon will gently blend the ingredients.

What is a perfect Manhattan made of? ›

The Dry Manhattan used dry vermouth instead of sweet. The Medium Manhattan was the original Perfect Manhattan, made with four parts whiskey and one part each dry and sweet vermouth.