The Dos and Don'ts of Making a Manhattan (2024)

FAQs

How many times do you stir a Manhattan? ›

Repeat after me: A Manhattan must be stirred, not shaken. While shaking gets the drink cold like stirring, it leaves the concoction a cloudy mess. It's the worst mistake you can make with this drink. The best method is to stir the drink with a bar spoon, leisurely, for at least 20 to 25 rotations.

A Perfect Manhattan might sound like a challenge but it really just means a combination of Sweet and Dry Vermouth; again with a lemon twist. The garnish rule is simple; use Dry Vermouth at all and the garnish is lemon.

For a classic Manhattan, we want to use “sweet” vermouth, which actually isn't all that sweet. Sweet vermouths are dark red or brown, not clear. My favorite options are Dolin and Carpano Antica. Dolin is the softer and smoother of the two, which is not to say that it's boring.

Unopened bottles have a 3 Year shelf life, once opened, refrigerate for up to 30 days.

Manhattan: While some prefer to shake this co*cktail, shaking a Manhattan can turn it cloudy and ruin the aesthetic. A Manhattan should be a stirred drink, as it contains only whiskey, vermouth, and bitters.

Place ice in a co*cktail shaker. Add the whiskey, vermouth and bitters. Rub the orange peel around the rim of the co*cktail glass. Strain the drink into the glass.

Extra dry means even less vermouth, as in, a splash. Wet: More than a drizzle of vermouth. Sweet: Sweet vermouth instead of dry vermouth. Perfect: Equal parts sweet and dry vermouth for a balanced flavor.

Most people don't realize that vermouth is not a spirit, but a fortified wine, and should be refrigerated once it's opened.

Dry Manhattan: Use a dash of dry vermouth and garnish with a lemon twist.

Do you use Everclear or vodka for bitters? ›

The best alcohol to use for bitters is high-proof liquor.

Most people use Everclear, a grain-distilled spirit that works extremely well for infusing botanicals. You can use other alcohols as well, but it's recommended to use liquors that are 50% alcohol by volume (ABV) or greater.

When a bartender stirs your martini or Manhattan for what may seem like an excessively long time, chances are they're doing it to reach a desired flavor, not temperature. While exact times vary depending on the drink, you're usually in good territory if you stir a drink for 30–45 seconds.

Straight up; without ice

Manhattan / Served

The Perfect Manhattan is a super simple co*cktail that's easy to whip up for any occasion. Having a party? Pre-mix the 50/50 dry and sweet vermouth and bitters in an empty bottle and then you just have to measure out the 1.5 oz whiskey and 1 oz of your vermouth+bitters mix, stir, strain and garnish.

If you plan ahead, manually adding water a batch of co*cktails is the most reliable way to manage dilution without shaking or stirring. Add about 20-25% water to the volume of the entire batch, or ¾-1 oz per serving. So if you're making a gallon of punch, you'll want to add about a quart of water.

Vermouth can go bad after 2-3 months, so you'll want to be sure to refrigerate it ASAP lest it turn to vinegar. Luckily for you, vermouth can be used well beyond the martini. You can use it in lieu of wine in savory recipes, or you can use it to add a little flavor in soups, sauces and desserts.

You can begin to batch your drinks in advance as well, combining all shelf-stable ingredients in a well-sealed container in your fridge. Even if you're not ready to start measuring and mixing, it's still a good idea to chill all of your co*cktail ingredients (the vermouth, the spirits, the syrups) the night before.

Chances are, most Manhattans you've ordered have been served with a Maraschino cherry as the garnish. But did you know that the first garnish to be used in a Manhattan was a lemon peel? The lemon peel gives a nice burst of brightness and adds a touch of acidity to the assertive flavors of a Manhattan.

Most Manhattan drinkers prefer this classic drink to be stirred, not shaken. (Only shake it when asked to do so!)

A: It is considered proper etiquette to eat the food items that often decorate a mixed drink, such as an olive or a cherry from a co*cktail.

How do you order a perfect Manhattan? ›

2. A Little Sweet, a Little Dry = Perfect. A subcategory of the Manhattan is the Perfect Manhattan—that is, 2 parts whiskey, 1 part equally divided sweet and dry vermouth, and bitters.

Traditionally, the Manhattan is made with rye whiskey which pairs the spice from the grain against the sweetness of the vermouth, but bourbon can be used as well to great effect.

A Manhattan only has three ingredients, so they had better be great, as each flavor is assertive. The traditional garnish is a maraschino cherry, and even that can be upgraded.

The term 'dirty' means that olive brine, usually from a jar of co*cktail olives, has been added to the drink. An olive garnish is typically assumed, too. Most bars add equal parts vermouth and brine, though you can specify 'extra dirty' or 'filthy' if you prefer more brine.

There are three essential styles of vermouth to know. Sweet (red) vermouth is the most common—it's what's called for in Manhattans, Negronis, and many other co*cktails. Dry vermouth is clear in color and is used in martinis. Bianco vermouth is also clear or slightly golden in color and is sweeter than dry vermouth.

Historically, there were two main types of vermouth: sweet red or dry white. Today the selection is more sophisticated and the range of styles includes extra-dry white, sweet white (bianco, blanc), red (rosso, rouge, roux), amber (ambrato, ambre) and rosé.

Vermouth can be drunk neat (usually over ice), diluted with tonic or soda (a great low-alcohol option) or used as an essential component in many classic co*cktails such as the negroni, manhattan and americano. The tricky thing, however, is pinning down the style.

Once open, your vermouth needs to be stored in the refrigerator. It'll stay in good shape for about a month, and then in passable shape for about two months after that. If you can't use it up within three months, invite some friends over, or give it away.

Can I drink vermouth straight? You sure can! As much as vermouth is more commonly served within co*cktails, you can also drink it straight over ice, too. We also like it with a splash of soda or bubbly for a simple yet sophisticated serve.

Traditionally, bartenders serve Manhattans in martini glasses garnished with maraschino cherries. Mixologists who want to serve Manhattans on the rocks opt for lowball or coupe glasses.

Is Triple Sec a bitters? ›

Triple sec (originally referred to as Curaçao triple sec) is a sweet and colourless orange-flavored liqueur. It is a type of Curaçao liqueur, an orange-flavoured liqueur made from the dried peels of both bitter and sweet oranges.

co*cktail bitters are regulated as food ingredients by the US Food and Drug Administrative (FDA). Common co*cktail bitters, like almond bitters, are considered “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS), in which case no additional approval is required.

Bitters give the liver a boost by aiding in the elimination of toxins and detoxification, coordinating the metabolism of sugar and fats, and helping release gallbladder-supporting hormones like cholecystokinin (CCK).

Angostura makes perhaps the most ubiquitous bitters bottles out there, one that you'll see in nearly every bar - and one that you should have in your co*cktail arsenal at home. This reddish-brown bitters provides a fragrant bouquet of fruits and spices, and it's an essential ingredient for any classic Old Fashioned.

Manhattans, Martinis, Negronis, Sazeracs, and Old Fashioneds are common drinks that include bitters. Generally, bitters should be added to a co*cktail that's already heavy on sour and sweet characteristics.

Is Everclear alcohol illegal anywhere? Everclear is legal in many states, but not all. States that have banned the 190-proof grain alcohol include California, Hawaii, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington.

What's the Difference Between Everclear and Moonshine? Both Everclear and Moonshine are unaged spirits; however, Everclear is made from grain and Moonshine from corn. Everclear is a brand name of a neutral-tasting, very potent grain alcohol. Moonshine is a general term used to describe illegally produced corn whiskey.

Some consider Everclear to be a very strong vodka; however, Everclear and vodka are very different. Vodka is much more diluted. For context, the typical vodka is roughly 40% alcohol by volume, which is 80 proof. Everclear, on the other hand, is 95% alcohol, which is 190 proof.

The purpose of stirring a co*cktail, as opposed to shaking, is to agitate the ice as little as possible so the drink has a smooth and even texture without any air bubbles.

For the most authentic Old Fashioned flavor, try Angostura. Once you master that, try other aromatic bitters, such as Peychaud's (the unique bitters used in a Sazerac co*cktail), Fee Brothers Old Fashion Aromatic, Scrappy's Aromatic, or an aromatic variety from a craft producer.

Why do you shake co*cktails with ice? ›

Shaking creates this effect by breaking up the ice and chilling the co*cktail, while also sloshing all of that delicious boozy mixture around. It makes for a frothy sipper rather than a velvety one. Importantly, shaking mixes certain ingredients together that, if stirred, would separate by the time you drink them.

For a drink made without ice or mixer, you'd order it "neat," and it would be served to you in an Old Fashioned co*cktail glass. So, you might say, "I'd like a bourbon, neat." To order a martini "up" or "straight up," means you'd like it chilled. A co*cktail that is poured over ice is "on the rocks."

Repeat after me: A Manhattan must be stirred, not shaken. While shaking gets the drink cold like stirring, it leaves the concoction a cloudy mess. It's the worst mistake you can make with this drink. The best method is to stir the drink with a bar spoon, leisurely, for at least 20 to 25 rotations.

There are three ingredients in a Manhattan—whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters—and they are all equally important. So, just as you should use a high-quality whiskey and vermouth for the drink, you should also opt for a good quality bitters brand.

Angostura Bitters Set

Essential in a Manhattan co*cktail as well as ​an Old Fashioned, Angostura Aromatic Bitters have a pronounced tamarind and cinnamon flavor. If you come across any co*cktail recipe that simply says "bitters," it's very likely that it was written with this bottle in mind.

But regardless of all the options, there is only one classic Manhattan: two parts whiskey, one part sweet vermouth and bitters.

The general rule is to stir a co*cktail for at least 30 seconds, or about 50 rotations around the glass. You can stir for longer—some bartenders prefer to stir martinis for a full minute or more.

“The Manhattan should be prepared by stirring,” Albert Schmid says in his book dedicated to this co*cktail. “Shaking the combination of ingredients produces a drink that is cloudy and foams across the top. Stirring preserves a transparent drink and allows the consumer visual as well as gastronomic pleasure.”

Now that you have the ingredients, you will also need a mixing glass, long bar spoon, serving glasses, and ice. Chill the glass – add some ice into the serving glass, pour water over ice, and set it aside while making the co*cktail.

When a bartender stirs your martini or Manhattan for what may seem like an excessively long time, chances are they're doing it to reach a desired flavor, not temperature. While exact times vary depending on the drink, you're usually in good territory if you stir a drink for 30–45 seconds.

What is the basic co*cktail rule? ›

Here's a good guide to one fundamental rule of drink mixing: You need to include a spirit, something bitter, and something sweet to achieve a balanced drink. When you're mixing up a sour co*cktail, one useful rule of thumb is to aim for 3 parts spirits, 2 parts bitter, and 1 part sweet.

The Golden Ratio

Get a perfectly flavor-balanced co*cktail with the bartender's golden ratio of 2:1:1. That means, 2 parts spirit, 1 part sweet, and 1 part sour. First, you'll begin with 2 parts of your spirit of choice: vodka, gin, rum – what have you. Secondly, add that to a mixing tin with ice.

Say: “I'll have a Whiskey neat, please.” Up. What it is: An alcoholic drink stirred or shaken with ice, and then strained into a stemmed co*cktail glass. Say: “A Manhattan up, thanks!”

Pick up the shaker and turn it sideways, a full 90 degrees. Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds. Open, and strain your drink into a glass, either over fresh ice or served up.

Straight up; without ice

Manhattan / Served