How to Make a Manhattan

Co-authored by Mimi Perryman and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: January 23, 2023 References

A Manhattan might taste too complex to recreate at home, but it's actually one of the easiest cocktails to make. You won't need fancy equipment or skills to combine rye whiskey with sweet vermouth and bitters. If you take the time to chill your glass and don't dilute the drink as you stir it, you'll be rewarded with a homemade Manhattan that rivals one from the bar.

Ingredients

2 fluid ounces (59 ml) of rye whiskey
1 fluid ounce (30 ml) of sweet vermouth
2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
Maraschino cherry for garnish

Makes 1 cocktail

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making a Classic Manhattan

1
Chill a cocktail glass while you prepare the drink. Fill a coupe, martini glass, or any short cocktail glass with ice and set it to the side. If you want to chill the glass farther in advance, put the empty glass into the freezer and leave it to chill for at least 15 minutes.
- If you plan on serving the Manhattan on ice, use a short glass instead of a coupe.
2
Shake 2 dashes of Angostura bitters into a cocktail shaker or mixing glass. If you don't have a cocktail shaker or mixing glass, you can use any large glass. Keep in mind that you won't be shaking this cocktail, but you will need the shaker lid or a cocktail strainer that fits in the glass.^{[1]
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- You can find Angostura-brand bitters in the wine department, liquor store, or online.
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3
Add 2 fl oz (59 ml) of rye whiskey and 1 fl oz (30 ml) of sweet vermouth. Pour the whiskey and vermouth into the strainer with the bitters. Although you can play around with different types of rye whiskey, remember to keep the ratio of 1 part vermouth to 2 parts rye whiskey.^{[2]
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- You can also find sweet vermouth in the wine department or liquor store. If you don't see a bottle of sweet vermouth, look for a red or rouge vermouth.
4
Fill the cocktail shaker or mixing glass with ice. Try to use ice cubes instead of crushed ice, since crushed ice will melt too quickly. Keep in mind that you want to add the ice to the shaker or mixing glass just before you're ready to stir and serve the cocktail.^{[3]
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- If you put the ice into the shaker or glass before pouring in the bitters, rye, and vermouth, you won't be able to control how much the ice dilutes the cocktail.
5
Stir the cocktail for 30 to 40 seconds. Use a bar spoon or long-handled spoon to stir the mixture until the shaker or mixing glass feels frosty on the outside. The ice will dilute the cocktail just enough to blend the flavors of the alcohol.^{[4]
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- Avoid shaking a Manhattan, which could make it become cloudy or foamy.
6
Strain the cocktail into the empty serving glass. Dump the ice out of the chilled glass or remove the chilled glass from the freezer. Then, set the lid on the cocktail shaker or place a cocktail strainer in the mixing glass. Slowly pour the cocktail into the serving glass.^{[5]
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7
Garnish the drink with a cocktail cherry. Spear a cocktail cherry, such as a maraschino or luxcardo, onto a cocktail pick and place it directly in the drink. Serve the Manhattan right away so it stays cold.^{[6]
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Variation: If you don't want to garnish with a cherry, use a zester to cut a strip of lemon peel and drop the lemon twist into the cocktail.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Trying Variations

1
Substitute bourbon for the rye whiskey for a smoother drink. Rye whiskey is traditionally used for the Manhattan and it gives the drink some spicy intensity. If you'd rather have a more rounded, mellow cocktail, use bourbon in place of the rye whiskey.^{[7]
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Tip: If you're feeling daring, try a Manhattan using an overproof rum or tequila instead of bourbon or rye. The drink won't be a traditional Manhattan, but you might really enjoy the unique flavor.
2
Use equal parts of dry and sweet vermouth to make a Perfect Manhattan cocktail. If you find a classic Manhattan to be too sweet, use equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth. The dry vermouth can cut the sweetness and balance the drink.^{[8]
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- Play around with different ratios of dry and sweet vermouth until you find a balance that you prefer.
3
Make a Brooklyn cocktail with dry vermouth. If you don't want any sweet vermouth in your cocktail, substitute dry vermouth. Create a Brooklyn cocktail by adding the rye whiskey, bitters, and 2 dashes of maraschino liquor. Stir the cocktail with ice for about 30 seconds before you strain it into a chilled glass.^{[9]
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- If you can't find maraschino liquor, substitute amaretto.
4
Add a few drops of cherry juice for a slightly sweeter flavor. The Manhattan will have a subtle sweet flavor from the sweet vermouth, but you can add a few drops of syrup from the jar of cherries if you want it even sweeter.^{[10]
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- If you don't have a jar of cocktail cherries, such as maraschino or luxcardo, try a few drops of grenadine.
5
Experiment with different types of bitters to create a unique cocktail. Although Angostura bitters are the standard for a classic Manhattan, you can completely transform the flavor of the cocktail by using different bitters. Try making a Manhattan with one of these types:^{[11]
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- Citrus: orange, grapefruit, Meyer lemon, yuzu
- Chocolate or coffee
- Herbal: lavender, thyme, cardamom
- Mole
6
Serve the cocktail on ice if you don't want it as strong. Put 2 to 3 ice cubes into the chilled glass before you strain the cocktail into it. The ice will slowly dilute the drink as you sip it, so a Manhattan on the rocks won't be as strong as one served "up."^{[12]
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- Avoid using crushed ice, since it will melt quickly and make the cocktail too watery.
- If you are a bartender, you wear many hats. For example, you are not only their bartender, but you can be their therapist and best friend.
- A customer may come to have a drink to have fun. Or they may come after work to have a cocktail at lunch.
- You should interact with them and get to know them. Find out what they would like to talk. For example, you can tell them jokes. If they are not very talkative, do not disturb them by engaging in conversation.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I make an Old Fashioned?

Community Answer

Add a sugar cube to an old-fashioned glass, and pour one to two dashes of bitters on top of it. Pour a splash of water in and mix. Add ice to your glass, pour your whisky (1 1/4 oz.), and top with water to your preferred taste. Stir and enjoy!