Bourbon Manhattan Recipe
Whisky, sweet vermouth and bitters, stirred cold.
The Manhattan is a stirred drink meant to be sipped slowly. Good sweet vermouth matters as much as the whisky.
Ingredients
- 50 ml Rye or bourbon whisky
- 20 ml Sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 Cocktail cherry For the garnish
Garnish: Cocktail cherry
How to Make a Bourbon Manhattan
- Add whisky, vermouth and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir for 30 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled coupe.
- Drop in a cherry.
Best Bottles for a Bourbon Manhattan in India
Spice from the rye content stands up to vermouth
Softer, sweeter Manhattan
Light bourbon, so use a little less vermouth
Prices are the lowest listed India price and vary by state. Check each spirit page for the full state-wise table.
Tips for a Better Bourbon Manhattan
- Stir, never shake. Shaking clouds the drink and adds air.
- Keep opened vermouth in the fridge. It goes stale within weeks at room temperature.
About the Bourbon Manhattan
The Manhattan dates to New York in the 1870s or early 1880s and is the first famous cocktail to pair whiskey with vermouth. The best-known story places it at the Manhattan Club, at a banquet supposedly hosted in 1874 by Jennie Jerome, Winston Churchill's mother. Historians doubt it, because she was in England and about to give birth at the time.
A more plausible account, from a veteran bartender named William Mulhall, credits a man called Black who kept a bar on Broadway near Houston Street in the 1860s. Whoever made it first, the drink was in print by 1882 and in bartending guides by 1884.
The original spirit was American rye. Bourbon became common after Prohibition and makes a rounder, sweeter Manhattan. The template of whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters went on to shape the Martini, the Rob Roy and the Boulevardier.
Bourbon Manhattan Variations
- Perfect Manhattan: split the vermouth into equal parts sweet and dry.
- Rob Roy: Scotch whisky in place of rye or bourbon.
- Black Manhattan: an Italian amaro such as Averna in place of the vermouth.
- Dry Manhattan: dry vermouth and a lemon twist instead of sweet vermouth and a cherry.
- Boulevardier: bourbon, sweet vermouth and Campari.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a Manhattan?
How strong is a Manhattan?
Should a Manhattan be made with rye or bourbon?
Is a Manhattan shaken or stirred?
What is the difference between a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned?
Does vermouth go off?
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