Description
A timeless whiskey cocktail featuring the perfect balance of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and aromatic bitters. This elegant drink is smooth, sophisticated, and ready in just 5 minutes—perfect for cocktail hour or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ounces rye whiskey (or bourbon)
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- 2–3 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 maraschino cherry (for garnish)
- Ice cubes (for stirring)
- Optional: orange peel twist (alternative garnish)
Instructions
- Chill your glass: Fill a coupe or martini glass with ice water and set aside while you prepare the cocktail.
- Combine ingredients: Add the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters to a mixing glass or cocktail shaker.
- Add ice: Fill the mixing glass with ice cubes.
- Stir: Using a bar spoon, stir gently for 30 seconds until the outside of the glass feels very cold. Do not shake.
- Prepare glass: Dump the ice water from your serving glass.
- Strain: Strain the cocktail into the chilled glass using a cocktail strainer.
- Garnish: Drop a maraschino cherry into the glass, or express an orange peel over the drink and add it as garnish.
- Serve immediately: Enjoy your perfectly balanced Manhattan!
Notes
- Whiskey choice: Rye whiskey creates a spicier, more traditional Manhattan. Bourbon makes it sweeter and smoother. Both are delicious!
- Vermouth freshness: Always use fresh vermouth stored in the refrigerator. Old vermouth will make your cocktail taste flat.
- Stirring vs. shaking: Never shake a Manhattan—it makes it cloudy. Stirring keeps it crystal clear and silky smooth.
- Cherry quality: Invest in good cocktail cherries (like Luxardo or Amarena) instead of bright red artificial ones for better flavor.
- Batch ahead: You can pre-mix whiskey, vermouth, and bitters in a bottle and refrigerate for up to a week for easy entertaining.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Cocktails / Drinks
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cocktail (approximately 3.5 oz)
- Calories: 185 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Manhattan cocktail, whiskey cocktail, classic cocktail, rye whiskey drink, cocktail hour, easy cocktails, bar drinks, stirred cocktails