Manhattan Cocktail

The inaugural “Drink of the Week” is the Manhattan Cocktail. A true classic, the Manhattan was invented in the 1870′s. This drink was a favorite of my grandparents, and it’s easy to see why.

The Manhattan is subject to considerable variation and innovation, and is often a way for the best bartenders to show off their creativity. Some shake the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker instead of stirring it, creating a froth on the surface of the drink. Angostura are the classic bitters, but orange bitters, Peychaud’s Bitters, and others may be used; using Fernet-Branca yields what is called a Fanciulli cocktail. Some make their own bitters and syrups, substitute comparable digestifs in place of vermouth, specialize in local or rare whiskeys, or use other exotic ingredients. A lemon peel may be used as garnish. Some add juice from the cherry jar or Maraschino liqueur to the cocktail for additional sweetness and color.

Originally, bitters were considered an integral part of any cocktail, as the ingredient that differentiated a cocktail from a sling. Over time, those definitions of cocktail and sling have become archaic, as sling has fallen out of general use (other than in certain drink names), and cocktail can mean any drink that resembles a martini, or simply any mixed drink. Accordingly, bitters are frequently omitted from a Manhattan unless specifically requested; purists, however, maintain that bitters are required to offset the sweetness of the whiskey and vermouth.

Using more vermouth and less whiskey to create a milder Manhattan may actually make the drink taste stronger to some drinkers because of the intense flavor of sweet red vermouth.

The classic preparation utilizes Rye whiskey. The drink originated on the east coast, and that was simply the type of whiskey they used due to regional availability. You can make a perfectly acceptable Manhattan using Bourbon or Canadian whiskey.

Mixology:
2 parts whiskey
1 part sweet vermouth
2 dashes bitters
Shake with ice, serve straight up in a martini glass or over rocks in a rocks glass.
Garnish with Maraschino cherry

Other Resources:
How to make a classic Manhattan Cocktail – About.com
Manhattan Cocktail Recipe – Drinksmixer.com (With Video)
Manhattan Cocktail – Epicurean.com
The WikiTender entry for Manhattan Cocktail