Manhattan

A Manhattan is one of the first of the "new fashioned" cocktails. Previously, virtually all drinks referred to as a "Cocktail" followed the pattern of "Spirit + Sugar + Water + Bitters". It would be this new-fangled style of cocktail which would bring rise to the term "Old Fashioned" as referring to a cocktail made in the old fashioned way.

Basic Recipe

Manhattan

• 2 ounces whiskey
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes aromatic bitters

Stir well with ice to chill. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry, or lemon twist.

Unlike the Martini, recipes for the Manhattan are less controversial. A typical recipe will be 2 or 3 parts of whiskey to 1 part of vermouth. When simply referred to as a "Manhattan", it is expected to use sweet vermouth. If the customer prefers theirs to be made with dry vermouth instead, they should ask for a "dry Manhattan". If the customer asks for a "perfect Manhattan", they are wanting it to use both sweet and dry vermouth.

History

It is believed that the Manhattan was probably first created at the Manhattan Club in New York around 1870. Despite some stories to the contrary, Winston Churchill's mother was not involved at all.

See Also

• Philip Greene, The Manhattan: The Story of the First Modern Cocktail Sterling Epicure (May 24, 2016)

External Links

• Manhattan (Wikipedia)
• The Strangely Cool Origin Story of the Manhattan (TheDailyBeast.com, Jul. 13, 2017)