What is the Manhattan Cocktail: The Best Classic Manhattan Cocktail Recipe

Written By Kira Ranieri

By Andrew Tardif

One of the first true cocktails I had in my life was a Manhattan. A luscious and robust cocktail of whiskey, vermouth, and bitters, once I learned how to make the best Manhattan cocktail, the doors had opened to the world of whiskey and cocktails.

I have fond memories of mixing up Manhattans for buddies as we played cards on my porch in Uptown Chicago, totally unprepared for the hangovers that lay awaiting us the next morning. 

So what is this cocktail that still sticks to my memories, and how do you make one so good that it will be remembered by you and your friends (hopefully, more responsibly)? 

In this article we at Chemist Spirits want to highlight the cocktail that has lasted over a century and persists even today, examining its history and exploring how to make a Manhattan. 

Manhattan 101: What is a Manhattan Cocktail?

Like  the martini, which we recently discussed and its likely successor, the Manhattan has a similar build that can be adjusted to one’s taste. 

The Manhattan cocktail ingredients are simply:

  • Base spirit: Whiskey (traditionally rye)

  • Modifier: Sweet vermouth (typically)

  • Method: Stirred with ice

  • Glassware: Martini or coupe glass

  • Garnish: Maraschino Cherry

  • Flavor profile: Spirit-forward, rich, spiced

As the Manhattan evolved through time, certain variations and alterations became possible including switching out the sweet vermouth for dry vermouth, reversing the ratios, and switching out some of the ingredients. Let’s begin with the basics. 

What Kind of Whiskey is in a Manhattan Cocktail?

Some older recipes like the Manhattan Cocktail in Charlie Paul’s American and Other Drinks calls for “Scotch Whiskey” while the Manhattan Cocktail No. 2 in The Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book calls for “Irish Whiskey.”

Since this cocktail is of American birth, it was, and still is, common with American Whiskey. Other than the barbooks that specified Scotch Whiskey or Irish Whiskey, most all others of the era simply called for “whiskey.” 

We love using our Chemist American Single Malt for a Classic Manhattan. It definitely makes the cocktail more approachable while having a nice malty, spicy finish. Our Rye is also great for a spicier and more in your face Manhattan. 

The Best Vermouth for Manhattan Cocktails

Looking for the best vermouth for a Manhattan? Consider your taste. The typical Manhattan cocktail uses a rosso Italian sweet vermouth, but a French or dry vermouth is also an option.

  • Italian Vermouth: Typically sweet, deep red, and luscious

  • French Vermouth: Typically white, dry, and savory

In 1884’s The Modern Bartender’s Guide, there are two Manhattan recipes, the first uses French vermouth and the second, Italian, so both were possible.

Bitters

For bitters, the standard is Angostura. Some classic Manhattan recipes like from How to Mix Drinks and The Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book call for orange bitters, which will result in a lighter Manhattan, and as you’ll see, this is a great addition for the Black Manhattan.

Boker’s bitters was the bitters of choice in Jerry Thomas’ The Bartender’s Guide while “Peruvian bitters” was specified in Winter’s How to Mix Drinks. At the end of the day, Angostura is the go-to for the basics of how to make a Manhattan. 

Manhattan Ingredients Time Forgot

There are a few classic Manhattan ingredients that we seem to leave out of our modern making of the cocktail. 

One is gum syrup, or gomme syrup. This syrup made of gum arabic and sugar was a common thickener in 19th century bartending that likely gave the Manhattan a more luxurious mouth feel. It was specified in How to Mix Drinks (1884 and 1906), Scientific Bar-keeping, and The Modern Bartender’s Guide.

The Manhattan recipes in How to Mix Drinks and The Modern Bartender’s Guide also called for dashes of Curacao in their Manhattan recipes, which could be to achieve the orange flavor that would come from orange bitters. 

Although interesting to try at home or play with at your bar, these ingredients aren’t necessary in the classic Manhattan cocktail, so feel content with just whiskey, vermouth, and bitters. 

What is the History of the Manhattan Drink?

The Manhattan, like many of our favorite cocktails today, is hard to pin down in its exact history. Luckily, with this cocktail, we do have more of an idea of where it comes from with two credible origins. 

The Origin of the Manhattan Cocktail

The first possible origin has the history of the Manhattan cocktail rooted in the Manhattan Club, a club founded in 1865 in Manhattan well known for being a Democratic hub. The common story is that the drink was created for a dinner hosted by the club in honor of Samuel J. Tilden, a presidential candidate, in December of 1874.

Jennie Jerome, Winston Churchill’s mother, was allegedly in attendance at the dinner since the club was located at her family’s mansion, the Jerome Mansion. This story, however, doesn’t hold much weight since Jennie Jerome had recently given birth to Winston and was in England, and since the Manhattan Club hadn’t yet relocated to the Jerome Mansion.

The Manhattan Club was still believed to have been the birthplace of the cocktail, however, there is one other story that says the creator of the Manhattan was a bartender named Black who owned a spot called the Manhattan Inn. 

This story came from a 1922 article by William F Mulhall who worked at the Hoffman House as the head barkeeper, but was dug up by the award-winning drink historian David Wondrich.

Regardless of its origins, the Manhattan revolutionized cocktails as we know them today, taking mixology from the old fashioned ways to those of our more modern understandings. 

How to Make a Classic Manhattan Cocktail

How do you make a manhattan? As with all cocktails made with spirits, you’ll simply need a mixing glass. This cocktail is meant to be stirred, not shaken, a fact that was lost on me when I was younger, thanks to an episode of The Simpsons. 

I frankly don’t know how Legs could have called that diluted mess, “Superb,” however, some folks do enjoy this drink shaken, but I think the best Manhattan recipe calls for a stirred cocktail.

Classic Manhattan Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions:

  1. Place ingredients into a mixing glass with ice

  2. Stir for 30 seconds or until thoroughly chilled

  3. Strain into a chilled coupe

  4. Garnish with a maraschino cherry

Common Manhattan Drink Variations

The Bourbon Manhattan Recipe

If you want your manhattan on the sweeter side, using Bourbon instead of Rye is a good way to change up the cocktail. It’s not a bad idea to bump up the amount of Angostura to counteract some of the sweeter notes. 

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz bourbon

  • 1 oz sweet vermouth

  • 6 dashes Angostura bitters

Instructions:

  1. Place ingredients into a mixing glass with ice

  2. Stir for 30 seconds or until thoroughly chilled

  3. Strain into a chilled coupe

  4. Garnish with a maraschino cherry 

The Perfect Manhattan Recipe

The Perfect Manhattan uses both dry and sweet vermouth. This is similar to the Perfect Martini which also uses a combination of vermouths.

Perfect Manhattan Ingredients:

Perfect Manhattan Instructions:

  1. Place ingredients in a mixing glass with ice

  2. Stir for 30 seconds or until thoroughly chilled

  3. Strain into a chilled coupe

  4. Garnish with a lemon peel or maraschino cherry

The Dry Manhattan Recipe

This Manhattan variation simply substitutes dry vermouth for sweet vermouth. Expressing the cocktail with lemon peel compliments the bite of the dry vermouth. 

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. Pour ingredients into a mixing glass with ice

  2. Stir for 30 seconds or until thoroughly chilled

  3. Strain into a chilled coupe

  4. Express lemon oil over the top

  5. Garnish with lemon peel

The Black Manhattan Recipe

This modern classic by Todd Smith of Bourbon & Branch simply switches out the vermouth for amaro, an Italian bitter spirit. This original recipe calls for Averna Amaro, but any dark amaro will do. We like to use our Burial American Single Malt for more depth and notes of chocolate and coffee. 

Ingredients:

Black Manhattan Instructions:

  1. Pour ingredients into a mixing glass with ice

  2. Stir for 30 seconds or until thoroughly chilled

  3. Strain into a chilled coupe

  4. Express orange oil over the top

  5. Garnish with orange peel

The Reverse Manhattan Recipe

This Manhattan variation is perfect for a late night cocktail post-dinner since the ratios become switched and vermouth is the dominant spirit. For a reverse Manhattan, we like to use our Biltmore Single Malt Whiskey, since the finish in Sangiovese wine barrels compliments the Italian vermouth. 

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Italian vermouth

  • 1 oz Chemist American Single Malt Whiskey

  • 4 dashes of Angostura bitters

Reverse Manhattan Instructions:

  1. Pour ingredients into a mixing glass with ice

  2. Stir for 30 seconds or until thoroughly chilled

  3. Strain ingredients into a chilled coupe or Nick and Nora glass.

  4. Garnish with a maraschino cherry. 

The Rob Roy Recipe

Known as “the Scotch Cocktail,” the Rob Roy simply uses scotch whiskey instead of American whiskey. 

The Rob Roy Ingredients:

The Rob Roy Instructions:

  1. Place ingredients in a mixing glass with ice

  2. Stir ingredients for 30 seconds or until thoroughly chilled

  3. Strain into a chilled coupe

  4. Garnish with a maraschino cherry 

Where to Get the Best Manhattan in Asheville, NC

The Manhattan cocktail is one of those drinks that exudes luxury and class. The sweet vermouth coats the tongue and lingers there while the whiskey and bitters come knocking at the palate with the ol’ “How do you do?” 

The Manhattan is a must-have cocktail. Stop by Antidote Cocktail Lounge, where we love to expose new cocktail lovers and seasoned veterans to the best Manhattan recipes. Stop by our tasting room to explore all of our own whiskeys, and grab a bottle, especially now that you know how to make the best manhattan . 

Happy concocting!

Manhattan FAQs | Tips for Making a Manhattan

Is a Manhattan Cocktail Neat or on the Rocks?

The Manhattan cocktail is typically served up in a chilled coupe, but it can also be served over the rocks in a rocks glass. You may want to invest in large cubes if you want it on the rocks. This ensures slower dilution while keeping the cocktail chilled. 

Do I need Fancy Bar Tools to Make a Manhattan?

You don’t need bar tools to make a Manhattan cocktail, and you can simply use a glass with ice or even a jar to stir the ingredients in. 

Does a Manhattan Use Bourbon or Rye?

Although Manhattan recipes usually call for just “whiskey,” rye was likely the popular whiskey used in the Manhattan and is the common choice. Bourbon is also a fine whiskey choice, though it does depend on preference. 

What’s the Difference Between a Manhattan vs. Old Fashioned?

A Manhattan uses sweet vermouth as its sweetener while the Old Fashioned cocktail uses sugar. Spirit, sugar, bitters, and water (melted ice) is the old fashioned cocktail and the Manhattan changed the concept of the cocktail by using vermouth. 

Sources:

Difford’s Guide

The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails

Charlie Paul, American and Other Drinks 1884

O.H. Byron, The Modern Bartender’s Guide 1884

Winter, How to Mix Drinks 1884

E.N. Cook & Co., Scientific Bar-keeping 1884

G. Spaulding and W. Rositer, How to Mix Drinks 1906

Albert Stevens Crockett, The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book 1935

Kira Ranieri
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What Is an Old Fashioned? | How To Make the Best Old Fashioned Cocktail