7. Manhattan

If you only learn to make one whiskey cocktail, this should be it.

Rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters are all it takes to craft this iconic cocktail. A cherry is the standard garnish, but if a lemon twist fits your mood, follow that bliss.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces rye whiskey

• 1 ounce sweet vermouth

• Such as Carpano Antica Formula

• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

• Maraschino cherry

• For garnish

How to prepare

1. Step 1

• Add rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir well for 15–20 seconds until well chilled.

2. Step 2

• Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Manhattan Variations

• Black Manhattan
• Swaps amaro in place of the original’s sweet vermouth, and uses orange bitters rather than Angostura.
• Bobby Burns
• Uses Scotch whisky and opts for a small amount of the herbal liqueur Benedictine rather than bitters.
• Perfect Manhattan
• Splits the vermouth to equal parts sweet and dry vermouth, 1/2 ounce each.
• Reverse Manhattan
• Inverts the amount of whiskey to vermouth, using 1 ounce of rye whiskey combined with 2 ounces of sweet vermouth.
• Rob Roy
• Uses Scotch whiskey instead of rye.

Enjoy your Manhattan!