Manhattan Drink Recipe

Comments on Manhattan

• Hambone

  Mar 20th, 2022
  Agreed, Manhattan’s should never be shaken. General rule of thumb is no citrus no shakes. Swizzle stick, then ice. Then one more stir. If you want a little orange flavor, use a high end orange bitters. But at the end of the day it’s what your customers palate is looking for. But don’t deviate too much or it’s no longer the a Manhattan. Cheers!
• Kyle

  Apr 14th, 2012
  I try for a 'Perfect Manhattan' using rye whisky, sweet and dry vermouth, bitters and lemon juice. 2.5-3:1 whisky:each vermouth, 3 drops lemon juice, 3 shakes of bitters. If I can't use rye exclusively, I use any bourbon (Buffalo Trace is in the current glass) and add a couple splashes of bitters. I prefer my drink 'spicy', and rye/ bitters does this well. No cherry.
• Riff

  Jun 3rd, 2011
  Manhattan should NEVER be shaken.
• Rifraf

  Mar 7th, 2011
  For a good twist on this classic I use a splash of a light orange liquer like Citronage instead of cherries. I call it an Old Palm Beach, after the ritzy part of Fl instead of New York.
• Mr. Tommy

  Jan 2nd, 2011
  For years I've been doing this one with Gentleman Jack and sweet Vermouth. I generally do a 2 to 1 ratio. Two GJ to one SV. Two shots to one, two bottles to one, whatever fits the occasion (sneer...), and when I 'splash' some bitters, it now becomes a "Perfect Gentleman". Love it!
• Digger

  Aug 29th, 2009
  This recipe seems to work best with Seagram's V.O. It has the smoothness of Canadian whisky with just the right amount of bourbon in it. A manhattan needs some bourbon. Straight bourbon seems to give the drink a harsher edge to it. Easy on the cherry and orange or the drink can get too sweet, overpowering the balance of the whisky and vermouth. I remember a Manhattan party where I was mixing the drinks using Pyrex measuring cups. Shot glasses were too small and inefficient!