The Perfect and Classic Manhattan

The Manhattan: Not originally a strong drink

The Manhattan was developed as a way to make a drink that was not TOO strong. Really? Yes, I guess the use of sweet vermouth was supposed to tame down the bourbon, or whiskey which I recently learned is the traditional choice.

Cocktails like the Manhattan are making a comeback

Everyone has a perfect manhattan recipe. Some prefer rye whiskey, others bourbon. Bitters anybody? Some forgo the bitters altogether. Do you prefer cherry juice or cherry liqueur? Even Luxardo cherries are entering the scene to elevate the cocktails. Manhattan recipes can also call for a lemon peel as garnish. It's always a nice touch. As you can see, the sky's the limit with Manhattan cocktail ingredients. Aah, and last but not least... Do you like yours shaken or stirred?

Aaah, the Manhattan! With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, I decided to create yet a different version of the the Manhattan using, none other than, Irish whiskey! For starters, the word whiskey comes from the Gaelic uisce beatha, meaning water of life. Really, I am not making this up!

Irish vs Scottish whiskey

Irish whiskey is slightly different from its Scottish counterpart. You see, Irish whiskey is made with both malted and unmalted barley. why? Well, you see,  the British government decided to place a tax on malted barley to take a cut of the Irish distiller's profits. This dastardly deed, put a dent on the sale of Irish whiskey, and increased its illegal production! So, the Irish figured out  a way to go around this and changed the "formula" to include both malted and unmalted barley. The result? A great flavor, and the bonus of not having to pay the full tax on the beverage. Leave it to the Irish! That's what I call resourceful!

By the way, this week you get two recipes! Bottoms up!

Want to spice up cocktail hour? Here are some other popular libations from Ethnic Spoon.

Scailtin - Irish whiskey milk punch will warm you up on a chilly day. It has the perfect balance of warming spices, whiskey, and creaminess to make it perfect for enjoying by the fire. 

Lemongrass Vodka Martini - Tangy, aromatic lemongrass goes perfectly with vodka to make this outstanding martini

Guava Lime Cocktail - Sweet guava, tangy lime, and tequila make this drink delicious as it is an indulgence. 

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The Perfect Manhattan

The perfect Manhattan is a combination of bourbon or Irish whiskey, sweet vermouth and dry vermouth.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Drink

Cuisine: American

Keyword: classic bourbon cocktail, sweet cocktail, whiskey drinks

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 minute minute

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 serving

Calories: 192kcal

Author: Analida Braeger

Ingredients

• 2 oz Irish whiskey
• ½ oz dry Vermouth
• ½ oz sweet Vermouth
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters
• 1 tsp Maraschino cherry juice
• 1 Maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions

• Place all ingredients except the cherry into a cocktail shaker.
• Stir and strain into cocktail glass.
• Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Nutrition

Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Sugar: 5g

Traditional Manhattan

The traditional Manhattan uses whiskey and  sweet vermouth.  

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 minute minute

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 1

Calories: 177kcal

Author: Analida Braeger

Ingredients

• 2 oz rye whiskey or Bourbon
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• 1 Maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions

• Place all ingredients in a shaker.
• Stir and strain into a cocktail glass.
• Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Nutrition

Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Sugar: 2g