The Classic Manhattan Cocktail

A perfectly balanced Manhattan cocktail represents everything we love about classic cocktails – sophistication, simplicity, and style. This pre-Prohibition era drink has graced the most prestigious bars for over 150 years, and we’re here to help you master it at home. When crafted properly, this whiskey-forward cocktail delivers a sublime harmony of spicy rye, aromatic vermouth, and bitters that’s impossible to resist.

A stemmed cocktail glassfilled with a Manhattan garnished with red cherries sits on a wooden table amidst drinks against a blurred green background.

Watch 🎥: How to Make a Classic Manhattan

What Is a Manhattan Cocktail?

Born in Manhattan’s Manhattan Club in the 1870s, this iconic cocktail was reportedly created for a banquet hosted by Lady Randolph Churchill (Winston Churchill’s mother). While some dispute this origin story, there’s no arguing that this sophisticated blend of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters has earned its place in the cocktail hall of fame.

A Manhattan cocktail garnished with cherries sits on a wooden table with a blurred decanter and tray in the background.

What you’ll love about this recipe:

CLASSIC – The perfect balance of rye whiskey’s bold spice with sweet vermouth’s herbal complexity creates a sophisticated sipper that evolves as you drink it.
BALANCED – Our tested 2:1 ratio ensures the whiskey shines while maintaining the vermouth’s essential character – no muddled flavors or overpowering sweetness.

What You Need to Make a Manhattan Cocktail

Rye Whiskey: The backbone of any great Manhattan, delivering spicy notes and robust character. We recommend Rittenhouse or Sazerac.
Sweet Vermouth: Adds depth and complexity with its blend of herbs and subtle sweetness. Carpano Antica Formula is our gold standard.
Angostura Bitters: The aromatic binding agent that ties everything together.
Luxardo Maraschino Cherry: Skip the bright red varieties – invest in quality cherries for the perfect garnish.

How to Make a Manhattan Cocktail

Step 1: Fill your mixing glass with fresh ice – always start with clean, quality ice.
Step 2: Pour 2oz rye whiskey and 1oz sweet vermouth over the ice.
Step 3: Add 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters.
Step 4: Stir for 30 seconds until properly chilled and diluted.
Step 5: Strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass. Step 6: Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

Expert Recipe Tips

Tip 1: Store your vermouth in the refrigerator after opening – it’s wine-based and will oxidize at room temperature.
Tip 2: Stirring, never shaking, maintains the drink’s signature silky texture.
Tip 3: experiment with different rye whiskeys to find your preferred profile – each brings unique characteristics to the cocktail.

A Manhattan cocktail garnished with two cherries on a pick sits on a wooden table, with a gold tray and glassware in the background.

How to Serve This Manhattan Cocktail

Serve in a chilled coupe glass for maximum elegance, or over a large ice cube in a rocks glass for slower dilution. Always garnish with a quality cocktail cherry – it’s not just decoration, it’s an essential component of the experience.

More Cocktail Recipes

SEE MORE COCKTAILS

Love this classic? Explore our collection of whiskey-forward cocktails like the Boulevardier, Sazerac, or our smoke-infused Old Fashioned.

A pink Blood and Sand cocktail with a dried orange slice garnish rests on a brass tray.

Blood and Sand Cocktail | The Sophisticated Scotch Cocktail

An espresso old fashioned with an orange peel twist on a tiled surface.

Espresso Old Fashioned Cocktail

An amber godfather cocktail with an orange peel garnish and large ice cubes sits on a white marble surface.

The Godfather Cocktail | The 2-Ingredient Cocktail That Changed History

Two coupe glasses containing revolver cocktails, each garnished with a dried orange slice on a skewer, rest on a green marble surface.

The Revolver Cocktail

Prep Time:5

Total Time:5

Ingredients

2 oz Rye whiskey
1 oz Sweet vermouth
2-3 dashes bitters
Maraschino cherries for garnish

Instructions

Add the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters to a mixing glass.
Add ice and stir.
Strain into a chilled rocks glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Video

Servings: 1 cocktail

Author: Kita

Recipe FAQs

Can I use bourbon instead of rye whiskey?

Yes, though the cocktail will be sweeter and less spicy. Rye provides the traditional Manhattan’s characteristic bite.

Why is my Manhattan too sweet?

Check your vermouth ratio and quality. Using too much or old vermouth can throw off the balance. Remember to refrigerate opened vermouth.

What’s the difference between sweet and dry vermouth in a Manhattan?

Sweet vermouth is traditional for a Manhattan. Using dry vermouth creates a “Perfect Manhattan” when split with sweet vermouth, or a “Dry Manhattan” when used exclusively.

Ready to elevate your cocktail game? Join our community of discerning drinkers – sign up for our newsletter for weekly happy hour inspiration, and don’t forget to join our private Facebook group for exclusive tips and discussions.