The Orion | Photograph by Noah Romero
THE CLASSIC MANHATTAN
The Manhattan dates back to the latter half of the 1800’s, first making an appearance at the Manhattan Club in New York City, although many have claimed that this recipe has been around much longer. The first written mention of the Manhattan came from the “Olean Democrat” on Sep. 5, 1882, although the first recipe with exact measurements of the cocktail comes from “The Modern Bartenders Guide,” by O.H. Byron, in 1884.
The original Manhattan was simple yet elegant, and only consisted of five main ingredients: whisky, vermouth, simple syrup, and bitters, along with a cherry or an orange twist as a garnish. That recipe called for two parts vermouth to one part whisky, whereas the modern Manhattan is heavier on the whisky than the vermouth. There are four other cocktails named after the remaining boroughs in New York, but the classic Manhattan is arguably the most iconic of the bunch!
Modern Perfect Manhattan
Recipe by Kathryn Maier, liquor.com
- 2 oz. Rye Whisky
- ½ oz. Dry Vermouth
- ½ oz. Sweet Vermouth
- 2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters
- Brandied cherry or lemon twist (garnish)
Original Manhattan Cocktail, No. 1
Recipe from “The Modern Bartenders Guide”
- 1 oz. French Vermouth (dry)
- ½ oz. Whisky
- 3-4 Dashes of Angostura Bitters
- 3 Dashes Gum Syrup (Simple syrup for substitute)
