The International Association of Bartenders classifies this drink as “Unforgettable”. A Manhattan cocktail is considered an aperitif, that is, used before meals to stimulate appetite. Recommended before dinner.

Manhattan cocktail - creation story

Legend has it that Winston Churchill's mother ordered for a particularly important event to come up with a special drink. The name of the cocktail is determined by the venue of the event - we are talking about the club "Manhattan" (New York). The event took place on December 29, 1874, this day is considered the birthday of the famous aperitif, which has become a classic. In fairness, it should be noted that the cocktail could have been invented earlier, and a noble event only contributed to its popularization. On the island of Manhattan there were many drinking establishments, a cocktail could be invented in any of them.

Classic Manhattan Cocktail Recipe

Bartenders use their own international system of volume measures. So, for example, liquids are measured in centiliters (cl). One centiliter equals 10 milliliters.

The total composition of the cocktail is as follows:

  • Paradise Whiskey (rye) - 5 cl;
  • red vermouth - 2 cl;
  • bitter “Agnostura” - 1 dash (4 drops);
  • ice - 150 ml;
  • cherry for decoration.

The bartender is preparing a classic recipe like this:

  1. A special bartender mixing glass fills with ice cubes.
  2. Following there pours alcoholic beverages. Using a bar spoon, the contents of the glass are mixed using the Steer method.
  3. Through a strainer, a drink from a mixing glass is poured into pre-chilled cocktail glasses.
  4. Wineglasses are piquantly decorated with cherries.

On a note. When adding ingredients, consistency is important. Experienced bartenders pour them in increasing fortresses.Weaker components come first, the strongest ones are added at the end.

Composition and proportions

To prepare the right Manhattan cocktail and get its real taste, you must adhere to certain proportions of the components.

The classic proportion of the cocktail is as follows:

  • 2 parts of whiskey;
  • 1 part of vermouth;
  • a couple of drops of concentrated Angostura grass bitter;
  • a quarter cup of ice.

The cooking process is simple:

  1. Pour whiskey and vermouth into a mixing glass with ice. It is historically customary to use rye whiskey, but it is allowed to replace it with bourbon.
  2. Mix thoroughly in a circular motion - the same way as stir, tea.
  3. Remove ice, pour into glasses, decorate with cherries.

The main taste, of course, is created by whiskey and vermouth, and a few drops of herbal tincture gives a light piquant shade to the overall taste picture. Cherry plays the role of decorating the drink, but at the same time it can be eaten when the cocktail is over - the aftertaste of Manhattan goes well with the berry flavor. By the way, as a decoration, sometimes, they use a curl of citrus zest - you don’t need to eat it, of course.

The drink is served immediately, during use it should be chilled - this is how the taste of the cocktail is best felt. There should not be an ice cube in it - gradually melting, it will dilute the drink.

On a note. You can buy a special cocktail candied cherry or use the usual fresh berries.

How to mix the ingredients

Bartenders know several ways to mix ingredients: Build, Steer, Shake, Blend. To prepare Manhattan, use the Steer method. What does this mean in practice?

The bartender takes the ingredients:

  • 50 ml rye whiskey;
  • 20 ml of red vermouth;
  • 1 des cocktail bitter;
  • as well as cherries to decorate the glass.

And mixes them as follows:

  1. The function of ice is only to cool the drink, it should not get into the glass. Pour ice cubes into a mixing container, add whiskey, vermouth and bitter there, and mix with a special spoon.
  2. Then the bartender pours the drink into chilled glasses through a special filter (it is called a “strainer”).
  3. Before serving, the cocktail is decorated with cherries.

Cooking Dry Manhattan at Home

Manhattan is dry and sweet. It depends on the amount of vermouth: sweet contains more drink, dry contains less.

To prepare a cocktail for a home party you will need (per one serving):

  • whiskey - 60 ml;
  • Martini Rosso (red vermouth) - 10 ml;
  • herbal balm or cocktail bitter - 3 drops;
  • water - 150 ml;
  • Cherry on a branch - at the rate of one cherry per glass.

Cooking is as follows:

  1. Freeze boiled or bottled water without gas in advance. The shape (cubes, cones, etc.) does not matter.
  2. Prepare one large mixing bowl. Put ice there.
  3. Pour whiskey, vermouth, bitter into the same container.
  4. Mix the ingredients with a dessert spoon in a circular motion.
  5. Pour the drink through a sieve into glasses. Ice is not added to the glass!
  6. Garnish each serving with one cherry on a twig.

Black Manhattan at home

An elegant maroon cocktail is made from the following ingredients:

  • 50 ml of bourbon;
  • 25 ml of amaro (bitter herbal liquor);
  • 4-5 drops of Angostura;
  • 150 g of ice.

The process is as follows:

  1. Pour ice into the mixing cup, pour the ingredients, mix with rotational movements.
  2. Ice is removed, the contents are poured into glasses.
  3. Decorate with cherries or cherries.

Perfect Manhattan Cocktail

Perfect (it's perfect) Manhattan differs from sweet and dry proportions: here the main ingredients are added 1: 1.

List of ingredients per serving:

  • 40 ml of bourbon;
  • 40 ml of Chinzano brand vermouth;
  • 5 drops of cocktail bitter;
  • 5 ice cubes.

Getting started:

  1. Pour ice into the mixer glass, pour alcohol, mix. At this stage, ice cools the drink, but it should not have time to melt and dilute the drink itself.
  2. Pour the cocktail into glasses, not allowing the ice pieces to fall into the drink.
  3. If desired, decorate with a cherry or a curl of lemon peel.

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