Bourbon: Manhattan

By Mark Bittman

Bourbon: Manhattan
Yunhee Kim for The New York Times. Drink stylist: Brian Preston-Campbell. Prop stylist: Theo Vamvounakis.
Total Time
2 minutes
Rating
4(307)
Comments
Read comments

A Manhattan is generally made with rye whiskey. Here we’re using its sweeter cousin, bourbon, with a splash of sweet vermouth. You’ll see precise measurements. But use this recipe as a guideline, and customize according to your preference.

Featured in: It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone
    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.
    Subscribe

  • Print Options

Advertisement

Ingredients

  • 2tablespoons sweet vermouth
  • Garnish: Maraschino cherry
  • ice
  • ¼cup whiskey
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Cooking Newsletter illustration

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Add 2 tablespoons sweet vermouth to the ice and whiskey and gently stir; strain into a glass. Garnish: Maraschino cherry.

Ratings

4 out of 5
307 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Comments

MTM

Use Luxardo cherries - you won't believe what a difference these cherries make vs. your standard Maraschinos.

Kim

Adding a few drops of Agnostura bitters makes this perfect.

Jim R

Not sure why these strange measurements--2 Tablespoons and 1/4 cup. 2 Tablespoons is 1 oz; 1/4 cup is 2 oz. Simple--2:1 ratio, the perfect ratio for me, but pls experiment to find yours. More important--if a manhattan doesn't have bitters, send it back. Again, experiment--Peychaud's, Fee Brothers or Bitterman orange bitters, Hudson's ginger, Woodford Reserve makes a good bitters for a manhattan. Check the Meadow on Hudson for lots of choices. And NEVER maraschino cherries.

William Benson

Any bourbon or rye cocktail that includes a maraschino cherry is instantly ruined by the addition of that red dye #2, almond soaked fake throwback to the ‘50s, especially since there are so many delicious alternatives - Luxardo being one.

Jeff B.

I find that using a really good/expensive bourbon in a Manhattan is not necessary. I save my good stuff for straight, on the rocks. Try Wild Turkey 101 for the bourbon Manhattan with that dash of bitters.

Jennifer Sig

I just keep frozen organic dark sweet cherries on hand, they work fine and thaw in your drink. A hint, just a small splash, of Cherry Heering if you like sweet.

Private comments are only visible to you.

Recipe Tags

Advertisement

or to save this recipe.