Uploaded June 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Manhattan is a staple of the cocktail world. It's like a jazz standard, everyone knows it and it's always excellent. It's a classic for a reason and, as with most classics, the origin of this one is a mystery. However it happened, it is one of the best cocktails out there and the inspiration for a lot of drinks. The Paddy Cocktail (youtu.be/wW_Iv8cC9I0), Rob Roy, The Fourth Regiment, etc. all started with the Manhattan and modified a measurement or ingredient. The most important ingredient that is often mangled at a hapless bar, is the whisky. Far too often, bars will make a Manhattan with bourbon. This is all wrong (youtu.be/cyLdtG7KZvw). It's not even a Manhattan at that point. Like the Paddy and the Rob Roy, the main difference is the type of whisky used, Irish Whiskey in the Paddy Cocktail and Scotch in the Rob Roy. Also, some old recipes of the Manhattan, call for a lemon twist instead of the cherry, but like the Sazerac (youtu.be/gxYEdsT06uk), that was once made with Brandy, now the accepted base spirit is rye, the Manhattan's expected garnish is a pair of maraschino cherries. Please do yourself a favor and get some real maraschino cherries. If you're felling adventurous, you can make them yourself (youtu.be/FXLI4XvFlPo). If not, Luxardo make excellent Maraschino Cherries that are more or less readily available (see below). Either way, you're going to be able to make a killer Manhattan and that's all that matters. Enjoy!
Recipe:
2oz Rye Whisky
1oz Sweet Vermouth
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
2 Maraschino Cherries
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facebook.com/DistinguishedSpirits
instagram.com/distinguishedspirits
twitter.com/DistinguishedSp
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Items Featured in This Episode
Rittenhouse Rye
facebook.com/pages/Rittenhouse-Rye/118250084919066
heavenhill.com/brand/23
Dolin
http://www.dolin.fr/gb/index.html
Angostura
amzn.to/1E3Eo6q
Luxardo Cherries (not exactly featured)
amazon.com/gp/product/B00852OTXE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00852OTXE&linkCode=as2&tag=distingspirit-20&linkId=YF3DDAOP5SZKY4AA
The Manhattan is a staple of the cocktail world. It's like a jazz standard, everyone knows it and it's always excellent. It's a classic for a reason and, as with most classics, the origin of this one is a mystery. However it happened, it is one of the best cocktails out there and the inspiration for a lot of drinks. The Paddy Cocktail (youtu.be/wW_Iv8cC9I0), Rob Roy, The Fourth Regiment, etc. all started with the Manhattan and modified a measurement or ingredient. The most important ingredient that is often mangled at a hapless bar, is the whisky. Far too often, bars will make a Manhattan with bourbon. This is all wrong (youtu.be/cyLdtG7KZvw). It's not even a Manhattan at that point. Like the Paddy and the Rob Roy, the main difference is the type of whisky used, Irish Whiskey in the Paddy Cocktail and Scotch in the Rob Roy. Also, some old recipes of the Manhattan, call for a lemon twist instead of the cherry, but like the Sazerac (youtu.be/gxYEdsT06uk), that was once made with Brandy, now the accepted base spirit is rye, the Manhattan's expected garnish is a pair of maraschino cherries. Please do yourself a favor and get some real maraschino cherries. If you're felling adventurous, you can make them yourself (youtu.be/FXLI4XvFlPo). If not, Luxardo make excellent Maraschino Cherries that are more or less readily available (see below). Either way, you're going to be able to make a killer Manhattan and that's all that matters. Enjoy!
Recipe:
2oz Rye Whisky
1oz Sweet Vermouth
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
2 Maraschino Cherries
Follow Us!
facebook.com/DistinguishedSpirits
instagram.com/distinguishedspirits
twitter.com/DistinguishedSp
pinterest.com/DistinguishedSp
Items Featured in This Episode
Rittenhouse Rye
facebook.com/pages/Rittenhouse-Rye/118250084919066
heavenhill.com/brand/23
Dolin
http://www.dolin.fr/gb/index.html
Angostura
amzn.to/1E3Eo6q
Luxardo Cherries (not exactly featured)
amazon.com/gp/product/B00852OTXE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00852OTXE&linkCode=as2&tag=distingspirit-20&linkId=YF3DDAOP5SZKY4AA
