How to Make a Perfect Manhattan
Keeley Ardman DeSalvoShare
A Manhattan is one of those drinks that sounds simple and isn't. Two ingredients, a little bitters, and the results can range from deeply good to disappointingly flat, depending almost entirely on a few details most people skip.
Here's what we've learned.
Start with the right bitters.
The bitters are where a Manhattan either comes together or falls flat. The classic choice is Angostura Aromatic Bitters, and for good reason. Two dashes add the spice and aromatic depth that pull the bourbon and vermouth into something bigger than either is on its own. It's the one we always have on the bar.
If you want to try a variation, the Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters are worth keeping alongside. A dash or two adds a stone fruit note that plays beautifully against the sweetness of the vermouth. It's not a classic Manhattan, but it's a great one.
Stir it. Don't shake it.
This is the detail most people get wrong. A Manhattan should be stirred, not shaken. Shaking aerates the drink, muddies the color, and gives you a cloudy, slightly frothy glass instead of the silky, translucent pour the cocktail is known for.
Add your ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir with a Classic Hoffman Barspoon for about 30 seconds. The goal is to chill and dilute just enough without adding air. The Hoffman is a reproduction of a turn-of-the-century bar tool, and it stirs the way a barspoon should: smoothly, with enough weight to keep a consistent pace.
Finish with a cherry worth eating.
The garnish on a Manhattan is not decoration. The cherry gets eaten, and it should be worth it. Skip the neon-red jar cherries and go for a good cocktail cherry. The orange peel is equally important: express it over the glass by giving it a firm twist so the oils hit the surface of the drink, then run it around the rim before dropping it in.
For presentation, the Bright Gem Crystal Cocktail Picks make the whole thing look as good as it tastes. Eight picks in jewel-toned crystal, professional grade. The kind of detail that makes a drink feel finished.
Or get everything in one kit.
If you want to skip the sourcing, the Classic Manhattan Cocktail Kit has you covered. It includes the Angostura Bitters, a cocktail cherry, and the other key components already selected and packaged together — add your spirit and you're ready to stir. It's also a great gift for the person on your list who loves a classic cocktail but hasn't built out their bar yet.
The Manhattan rewards the attention you give it. Get the ratio right, use bitters you actually like, stir it properly, and you have one of the great American cocktails. We've put everything you need below.
