Manhattan – an elegant cocktail

A timeless cocktail with origins in 19th-century New York, the Manhattan combines the warmth of bourbon with sweet vermouth and bitters – the result is a smooth, round and sophisticated drink.

Manhattan – classic cocktail with bourbon and vermouth

Ingredients

  • 5 cl bourbon or rye whiskey
  • 2 cl sweet red vermouth
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Ice
  • Cocktail cherries or orange zest for garnish

Approach

  1. Fill a tumbler with ice.
  2. Pour in bourbon, vermouth and bitters.
  3. Stir for about 20 seconds until well chilled.
  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
  5. Garnish with a cherry or a thin slice of orange zest.

Equipment

Flavor profile & serving tips for Manhattan

The Manhattan is round, deep and balanced with a clear barrel character from the bourbon. The vermouth adds sweetness and complexity, while the bitters provide structure. An elegant drink to serve before or after dinner, preferably with dim lighting and low music.

History

One story links the cocktail to a banquet at the Manhattan Club in New York City in the 1870s. The banquet was hosted by Winston Churchill's mother Jennie Jerome Churchill in support of New York Governor and presidential candidate Samuel J. Tilden . The drink, which was created by a Dr. Iain Marshall, was well received and guests left the party referring to it as the "Manhattan Cocktail". [1] [2]

This original Manhattan was a blend of "American whiskey, Italian vermouth and Angostura bitters ". [3] [4]

There are also other earlier references to similar drinks also called Manhattans . For example, it is said to have been created by a bartender named Black at a bar on Broadway at Houston Street . [2] [5]

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