What ingredients are in a Manhattan?

3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth, 2 1/2 oz Blended Bourbon, dash Angostura Bitters, 2 or 3 Ice, 1 Maraschino cherry, 1 twist of Orange peel

What glass do you use for a Manhattan?

A Manhattan is traditionally served in a Verre à Cocktail.

How strong is a Manhattan?

A Manhattan has an estimated ABV of 16,69%.

How many calories are in a Manhattan?

A Manhattan contains approximately 272 calories per serving.

What are the ingredients in a classic Manhattan?

A classic Manhattan is made with rye whiskey (or bourbon), sweet Italian vermouth, and Angostura bitters, stirred with ice and strained into a chilled cocktail glass. The standard ratio is 2:1 whiskey to sweet vermouth with 2 dashes of Angostura bitters. Rye whiskey is preferred in the original recipe for its spice and dryness, which balances the sweetness of the vermouth.

What is the origin of the Manhattan cocktail?

The Manhattan is believed to have originated in New York City in the 1870s, with the most common attribution pointing to the Manhattan Club. One popular story claims it was invented for a banquet hosted by Lady Randolph Churchill (Winston Churchill's American mother) in the 1870s, though historians consider this account unreliable. Documented recipes for the Manhattan appear in cocktail literature from the 1880s, confirming its late 19th-century New York origins as one of America's first great cocktails.

What is the ABV of a Manhattan and how should it be garnished?

A Manhattan has an ABV of approximately 28–33%, reflecting its composition of high-proof whiskey and sweet vermouth with minimal dilution from stirring. It is traditionally garnished with a Maraschino cherry, which provides a sweet counterpoint to the spiced, bitter drink. A Perfect Manhattan substitutes half the sweet vermouth with dry vermouth for a drier, more complex result.

Among the oldest and most respected American cocktails, the Manhattan stirs blended bourbon together with sweet vermouth and a dash of Angostura bitters, then strains the mixture into a chilled glass to be served up. A maraschino cherry and a twist of orange peel complete it. Whiskey warmth, the herbal complexity of vermouth, and the aromatic depth of bitters interlock in a composition near 17 percent ABV that has come to exemplify elegant restraint. The IBA lists it among its Unforgettables, the category reserved for enduring classics. Stirred rather than shaken to preserve clarity and texture, it remains a benchmark of the spirit-forward stirred drink.

Manhattan

Verre Verre à Cocktail

Difficulté Hard

Calories ~272 kcal

ABV 16,69%

Ingrédients

Sweet Vermouth 3/4 oz
Bourbon 2 1/2 oz Blended
Angostura Bitters dash
Ice 2 or 3
Maraschino cherry 1
Orange peel 1 twist of

Instructions

Stirred over ice, strained into a chilled glass, garnished, and served up.

IBA Classic Alcoholic

Le Manhattan est un classique « Unforgettable » de l'IBA qui associe bourbon assemblé, vermouth rouge doux et bitter Angostura, servi avec une cerise au marasquin et un zeste d'orange. C'est l'un des plus anciens et des plus respectés cocktails américains, mêlant la chaleur du whiskey à la complexité herbacée du vermouth et à la profondeur aromatique du bitter. Remué et servi dans un verre à cocktail glacé, il représente le sommet de la simplicité élégante.

History & Origins

The Manhattan is believed to have been created in the early 1870s, with competing legends placing its invention at the Manhattan Club in New York City, possibly to honor a banquet for Lady Randolph Churchill. It was among the first cocktails to use vermouth as a modifier and helped define the template of spirit-plus-modifier-plus-bitters that underpins much of modern mixology. The IBA lists it as an Unforgettable.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich bourbon warmth with sweet herbal vermouth and aromatic bitters, lifted by orange peel oils. Palate: Full-bodied and sweet-forward with bourbon depth, bitter chocolate, dried fruit, and complex herbal notes from the vermouth. Finish: Long, warm, and bittersweet with lingering spice and cherry.

whiskey herbal sweet bitter spiced

Pro Tip

Stir for at least 30 seconds over large ice to achieve proper dilution and silky texture before straining into a pre-chilled glass.

Techniques utilisées

Filtrer Remuer

Variations

Brooklyn

Tipperary

Compare Manhattan

Negroni

Old Fashioned

Whiskey Sour

Data verified septembre 2017

Informations nutritionnelles →

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