Manhattan Cocktail Recipe
When I was a kid growing up, my dad would occasionally have an after-work cocktail. His favorite? The Manhattan cocktail. Fast-forward three decades to this past summer, and a beach-house vacation between my brother’s family and mine. My brother and I made a different cocktail every night. Which stood out for me? The Manhattan. It’s a perfect drink to sip mid-week.
A Manhattan cocktail is basic: whiskey and sweet vermouth. The key is to choose a brand of whiskey and a ratio of ingredients that suits your palette. As the dad in Dad’s House, I felt it my duty to try several brands. (I’m good like that). Here are some Manhattan cocktail favorites. Note that the traditional recipe calls for Rye.
Maker’s Mark is a popular whiskey found in most of my local bars. It makes for smooth sipping on its own, but didn’t add much to the Manhattan cocktail.
Brouillette whiskey came in an old-style flask with raised lettering. It was great for sipping, but made for a too-strong Manhattan. Two cocktails with this completely kicked my ass!
My favorite? Jim Beam Black Label. For me, this made the perfect drink.
Here’s my recipe for a great Manhattan cocktail.
2 parts Jim Beam Black Label whiskey
1 part Martini and Rossi Rosso vermouth
Measure into a glass with ice. Stir.
Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
A local bartender likes to toss in a dash of Angostura bitters, then strain into a glass. His Manhattan drink is nice, but not so much better to make me change my methods at home. I serve this Manhattan cocktail on the rocks in a lowball glass.
Drink responsibly.
- Classic Gin Martini Recipe
- Negroni Cocktail Recipe
- Gimlet Recipe
- Limoncello Recipe
- Old-Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
- How to Make a Mojito
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Comment by The Exception
| October 9th, 2008
Does the difference in Malt make a difference?
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Comment by George Nemeth
| October 9th, 2008
Bitters and sweet vermouth or bitters instead of vermouth?
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Comment by Cathouse Teri
| October 9th, 2008
I’m always looking for someone who can make an Old Fashioned the way my dad does. Although, he makes a pretty mean Manhattan, too.
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Comment by T
| October 9th, 2008
Yummm… I love a good whiskey!
Thanks DH!
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Comment by katherine.
| October 9th, 2008
“All Boubons are Whiskeys….but not all Whiskeys are Bourbon“
I thought I’d mention that a Manhattan (which is indeed a wonderful cocktail) calls for Bourbon Whiskey. Jim, Mark,…or Jack for that matter…would be fine. But never Jameson, Bushmills and Johnnie..black, red or blue.
There is a significant difference between Kentucky Bourbon and Tennessee Bourbon…but it wouldn’t matter in Manhattan…
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Comment by dadshouse
| October 9th, 2008
George – a Manhattan cocktail gets a dash of bitters AND sweet vermouth. And the the cherry, too! I prefer the simplicity of not having to stock my home bar with bitters, since no other drink I make calls for them.
The Exception – apparently, the traditional Manhattan cocktail is made with Rye whiskey, and most Canadian whiskeys are still made with rye, so if you order a Manhattan with Canadian whiskey, you’re getting close to the real deal. My local bartender doesn’t bother with that – he’s the one who suggested Maker’s Mark. Or Jim Beam white label as his house version of the drink. Black label is much better for a Manhattan cocktail, IMHO.
Comment by katherine.
| October 9th, 2008
edit….there is a significant difference betwen Kentucky Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey…which is a Bourbon…smile.
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Comment by SDMktg
| October 9th, 2008
I personally like Bakers, Bookers, and Woodbridge. Makers is very smooth. I’m not a vermouth fan so I’ll stick to bourbon over ice.
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Comment by Cathouse Teri
| October 9th, 2008
I’m not really into anything but Chivas.
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Comment by Jimmy
| October 9th, 2008
My opinion is a bourbon has too strong a flavoe. I prefer Segram’s 7 5 parts, 2 parts sweet vermouth,( sometimes I like in drier w/ 1 part sweet & 1 part dry.) and I think bitters are a must. Fee’s are my favorite. (Fee’s also has an outstanding orange bitters which goes great in martinis.). I think a manhattan should be in a cocktail glass and it should be neat.
My 2¢
Comment by Cheery-Wise
| October 9th, 2008
Hi Dads. I’m not into whiskey or gin – I’m more of a wine, sangria/fruity drinks type. But your post got me thirsty nonetheless. I just looked up some of your other bartender recipes on this site. And though you successfully got my mind wandering (still in the office, no less), I think you need to work on your girly drink repertoire!
Here’s an idea (two birds = one stone). On a kid-free weekend, throw a “perfect mixed drink” party! Invite your network of male/female friends to bring a single friend/colleague of the opposite sex, a bottle of their choice, and a snack. The more tasting participants, the merrier.
You provide the mixers and the garnishes. Designate a few non-drinker drivers (or provide lots of pillows) and have at it! Lots of single tipsey folks in one place.. surely something fun will happen. Especially with all the pillows! (Boy, this is reminiscent of a groovy 60’s bash! Aha! a theme!) LOL
All this talk of drinks… oh my. At tonight’s TNO (Thursday night out), this filly is likely going to order herself a long tall Cosmo. Thanks for the recipe. Wanna join us? O’Neill’s on B Street in San Mateo. :)
Comment by Vinomom
| October 9th, 2008
I’ve never had an actual Manhattan but if I am drinking liquor, Whiskey has always been my choice. I started with Jack, experimented w/ Makers Mark for a bit, and now if I am not having wine, I usually have a Seven & 7 (seagram’s 7 and 7Up or Sprite) But I’m up for trying something new!
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Comment by dadshouse
| October 9th, 2008
Cheery-Wise – I won’t force Manhattan cocktails on you. I love the drink party idea. That might just happen… oh, and you’re local, which is perfect!
Vinomom – on 07/07/07, I went sailing with friends. We made it a point to drink 7 and 7’s on the boat. It was the first time we had to pay a cleaning fee to the renting yacht club. Needless to say, fun times had by all.
Jimmy – I’m gonna have to try some bitters!
It definitely seems there are some experts out there. Love to hear more opinions and advice regarding Manhattan cocktails! Rye, whiskey, bourbon, brands, etc. The floor is open.
Comment by SDMktg
| October 9th, 2008
Cheery just reminded me I have to post my shot of the week on my blog. I try to make them shots that guys can stomach but they are mostly for the girls. I’d be fine with Patron most of the time. The Anejo is actually not bad for sipping.
A warning if you try the Booker’s bourbon. It’s 124 proof. Go easy.
Comment by johndale
| October 23rd, 2008
i love jim beam black–usually on the rocks, but makes a wonderful manhattan. the one thing i want to try–and i used to drink a fair share of it is rye. that was the traditional (read old) way of making a manhattan.
my mom and grandmom–and others in the family loved them extra sweet–1/2 bourbon 1/2 sweet vermouth and a couple of cherries. so i grew up on them being a little sweet.
if i am home and want one for dessert, it gets a little more vermouth.
Comment by No Pars
| August 29th, 2009
I had a taxi driver in Memphis once, who was a retired bartender. He said that with Manhattans and Old Fashions you should not use sweet bourbons. You’ll have to taste test them for sweetness. Now I just use rye.
Also my good friend in Boulder, George, switched me to the “Perfect Manhattan” which use equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth along with the bourbon (or rye). I also prefer my Perfect Manhattans with a lemon twist over the cherry.
A couple of tips: 1. Boubon/Rye should never be shaken just stirred. 2. All these drinks need a couple of “splashes” of bitters NOT drops!