David Thornton
The Manhattan is one of the five original classic cocktails, supposedly created in the 1870s at the Manhattan Club in New York City. It's a study in balance — the rye's spice meets the vermouth's sweetness with the bitters tying everything together.
Choosing Your Whiskey
Rye is traditional and preferred — its spice cuts through the sweet vermouth beautifully. Rittenhouse Rye or Bulleit Rye are excellent choices. Bourbon makes a softer, sweeter version.
The Vermouth Matters
Use quality sweet vermouth — Carpano Antica Formula or Cocchi di Torino will transform this drink. And keep your vermouth refrigerated after opening.
Variations
A Perfect Manhattan uses equal parts sweet and dry vermouth. A Rob Roy is the same recipe with Scotch. A Reverse Manhattan flips the ratio to vermouth-forward.
