Manhattan

[spinningrecords]

I'm struggling to make a good manhattan at home. I tried different bourbons and ryes. I've tried Martini & Rossi red and white. I've tried Antica Formula. I've got Reagan's orange bitters. I've tried a variety of cherries. I've got a nice shaker from C&B.

My guess is that either the vermouth or the bitters is damaging the taste. I'm mindful to just put a drop of bitters in the drink now. Maybe my vermouth is bad or the red simply spoils the taste regardless of condition. Maybe any vermouth is a killer at this point and just some whiskey and water better fits the bill.

Anyone out there having similar problems or have a worthy approach to making one?

[moose]

I too have been searching for a great Manhattan recipe, I have been experimenting quite a bit myself, but I'll just share with you what has been my favorite recipe thus far.

2.5oz Bulleit Bourbon

.75oz Martini & Rossi Rosso (Sweet Vermouth)

.75oz Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth

3 Dashes Fee Brothers Orange bitters

1 Star Maraschino Cherry

Pour all the Bourbon and Vermouth(s) over ice in a metal cocktail shaker.

Stir for 15-30 seconds (making sure not to cause any bubbles or too much agitation).

Strain into chilled cocktail glass

Add bitters and cherry, stir once more very briefly.

That's been my favorite thus far, I added the drier vermouth as the sweet vermouth left the drink too sweet for my liking.

Good luck to you, its always fun just trying new recipes until you find one you like.

-Also remember, vermouth DOES go bad, I keep mine in the fridge, and just purchase the 375ml bottles as I don't go through much at all.

[yountvillewjs]

Angostora Bitters & Dolan Vermouth (red) makes me (and my Manhattans) very happy.

[bad_scientist]

My wife cannot abide by hard liquor, but she loves this:

4 parts Rittenhouse Rye BIB

1 part Noilly Prat Red

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 Maraschino cherry

I just mix the bitters and vermouth in a chilled glass and add pre-chilled rye to it, stir for a bit and add the cherry. It's strong as $@*$ but it tastes so deliciously smooth with highly approachable herbs and spices. I have seen people say and do crazy stuff after a couple of these...

That said, I think the suggestion of mixing half sweet and half dry vermouth might be better than just the sweet stuff. I, too, think Manhattans in general are too sweet.

[JayMonster]

Some important steps.

1. Use filtered water (at least) for ice.

2. Keep baking soda in the freezer so ice doesn't acquire any additional tastes.

3. Get some Noilly Prat (sweet) and/or Boissiere (for dry) Vermouth.

Recipes and percentages can vary, though I am partial to a "perfect" Manhattan (1/2 sweet and 1/2 dry vermouth), but you can't make a great Manhattan with bad ice or mediocre (or poor), vermouth.

In short, put as much thought into your other ingredients as you do into what Bourbon you choose.

[sailor22]

The Vermouth is more important than the Rye or Bourbon. If the history I have seen is correct this was a drink originally created to showcase the Vermouth and the Rye or Bourbon was in the background.

Try experimenting with different brands of Vermouth - the Party Source has some interesting ones available with good descriptions on line if your local selection sucks as much as mine does.

Also remember that Vermouth goes bad very quickly once it's opened and must be kept refrigerated to slow the spoilage.

[Tony]

Anybody try this vermouth? http://www.imbuecellars.com/

I was thinking of trying some and would like your thoughts.

Best regards, tony

[bad_scientist]

The Vermouth is more important than the Rye or Bourbon. If the history I have seen is correct this was a drink originally created to showcase the Vermouth and the Rye or Bourbon was in the background.

My guess is that the choice of rye matters more than a little. Different ryes can have astoundingly different flavor profiles.

Also remember that Vermouth goes bad very quickly once it's opened and must be kept refrigerated to slow the spoilage.

I didn't know that - I just made some vermouth ice cubes that hopefully will slow that down even more.

[Bourbon Boiler]

2 oz Blantons

1 oz homemade apple brandy

.5 oz Vermouth (much less than most)

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 large ice cube

Like the OP, I struggled with the vermouth until I made it only a seventh of the overall drink. Any more ruins it for me.

[bad_scientist]

2 oz Blantons

1 oz homemade apple brandy

.5 oz Vermouth (much less than most)

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 large ice cube

Like the OP, I struggled with the vermouth until I made it only a seventh of the overall drink. Any more ruins it for me.

Now where in the heck can we get homemade apple brandy? If you can ship, I can accept PMs

[SDpappy]

Sucks when my local spirits stores only have Gallo and Martini Vermouth.

[Bourbon Boiler]

Now where in the heck can we get homemade apple brandy? If you can ship, I can accept PMs

I'm sure a commercial apple brandy will work as well. While I've made some brandy in the past, this one really should have read "home aged". I took a cheap, store bought brandy, filtered through used BT char, and then aged it in a small barrel for a few months (with more BT char). By itself, it has a clean, sweet brandy nose and initial taste, but a bouron finish. Not bad by itself, but excellent in a Manhattan.

[bad_scientist]

Set up a blind tasting session for my wife with the following in Manhattans:

ORVW 10/107 from 2010

RR 6 year rye

TPS 4R OBSK

Ritt BIB

Amazingly to me, she thought the ORVW was the best for Manhattans! 2nd place was the Ritt, and close behind was the OBSK. She took a sip of the RR Manhattan and pushed it away, saying it had a great nose but tasted like crap.

[coltcannon]

I rarely have anything but Punt e Mes at the house. While at work my Manhattan's go like this:

2oz bourbon or rye (i always prefer something high proof)

0.5oz Noilly Prat Sweet

not a dash but turn the bottle over slowly to let it drip of angostura

chill cocktail glass, pint glass full of ice, stir for a good 45-60 seconds, strain

house brandied cherries for garnish

As people have said treat vermouth like you would wine. Buy small bottles, keep in the fridge, use for other things if old. Chilling all the glassware makes a difference for me also. I also make a cherry-vanilla bitters which makes a good manhattan amazing.

[CADMixes]

I keep it very, very simple:

2 oz. 100 proof or greater rye

1 oz. vermouth (usually Dolin rouge)

2 solid dashes Angostura

Stir and strain, no garnish.

As everyone has been saying, fresh vermouth will make or break the drink. Keep it in the fridge, use a vacuvin, throw it out after a couple weeks. Martini, Cinzano, Noilly Prat, are all good but Dolin is my favorite. Punt e Mes and Carpano Antica are wonderful products but they're very assertive, be prepared to mess with your recipe a little bit. In general I think 2:1 with a standard sweet vermouth and 100-110 proof whiskey is going to balance pretty well.

Good cracked ice, proper stirring, and chilled glassware should complete the picture. The o.p. mentioned using a shaker--if you've been shaking your Manahattans exclusively I highly encourage you to give stirring a try.

[yountvillewjs]

Agree w/ CAD on Dolan. For me, it dusts the more expensive Carpico Antica.

I've been experimenting with a 50/50 THH & Saby Saz with pretty tremendous results. Expensive, sure -- but for a treat, very worth it. Ritt BiB does pretty well for a daily.

[StraightNoChaser]

Handy is my go-to rye for Manhattans. You haven't lived until...

[proof and age]

Naked Manhattan

Developed as a tribute to the Singing Cowboy in Times Square

Bourbon (90 proof or above)

Ice (If you have some)

Use a glass (optional)

[StraightNoChaser]

Naked Manhattan

Developed as a tribute to the Singing Cowboy in Times Square

Bourbon (90 proof or above)

Ice (If you have some)

Use a glass (optional)

[CADMixes]

Handy is my go-to rye for Manhattans. You haven't lived until...

[tommyboy38]

This reminds me of.........

[SeaninSD]

Lately I've been doing:

3 oz Blanton's or Weller 12

1 oz sweet noilly pratt sweet vermouth

2 cherries (organic in cane sugar)

stirred

no bitters (sometimes with bitters, but I feel it takes away from the bourbon)

[SeaninSD]

P.S. - Anyone feel strongly about shaken vs. stirred?

Does bourbon really "bruise?" I guess I need to try both as a taste test, but don't currently own a cocktail shaker.

[yountvillewjs]

I don't feel strongly, but I always stir.

[ILLfarmboy]

P.S. - Anyone feel strongly about shaken vs. stirred?

Does bourbon really "bruise?" I guess I need to try both as a taste test, but don't currently own a cocktail shaker.

I had a couple Makers' Mark Manhattans at a Red Lobster last night. I didn't see them make 'em but I know darn well they were shaken; they had ice chips in them and they were somewhat dilute.

I"m not worried about "bruising" the whiskey but I don't like ice chips in a straight-up Manhattan and I don't like it diluted much.

I like them stirred.