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THE MANHATTAN MARTINI
A classic making a comeback thanks to Mad Men!
Ingredients: Rye Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth, Maraschino Liqueur, Angostura Bitters, Maraschino Cherry, Orange Slice, Orange Twist
The Manhattan can be either stirred or shaken. Shaking the cocktail will give you a froth on the surface of the drink which is my preferred version. You can also use orange bitters or Peychaud's Bitters in place of the classic Angostura bitters and many versions do not include the Maraschino Liqueur but I happen to like the extra sweetness it adds. I've also had versions where the juice from Maraschino cherries was used in place of the Maraschino Liqueur but I find this adds a slightly chemical element and dislike the taste.
The Manhattan is a classic cocktail with it's roots back in the mid-1800s. There are several stories of it's beginnings, one where the drink was invented by a bartender named Black at a bar on Broadway near Houston Street back in the 1860s, another version says the cocktail was named after Manhattan's city water and sewage system which reflected the brown color of the drink.
A more popular history refers to it's invention by Dr. Iain Marshall. According to the story Dr. Marshall created the cocktail for a banquet hosted by Jennie Jerome (Lady Randolph Churchill, Winston Churchill's mother) in honor or Samuel J. Tilden. The banquet was held at the Manhattan Club and, when the Manhattan became a popular libation, it was named after the club in which it originated. Some say that this story can't be true because Lady Randolph was pregnant and in France at the time but it is the most detailed story, lending a bit of credence to the tale.
Whatever it's true beginnings, there is at least one early record of the Manhattan in William Schmidt's "The Flowing Bowl" which was published in 1891.
Since WW2 the Manhattan has been the official drink of merchant, yachting and Coast Guard Auxiliary commodores
- Variations of this classic cocktail include:
-
- A Rob Roy which is made with Scotch Whiskey instead of Rye
- A Dry Manhattan which uses Dry Vermouth
- A Brandy Manhattan which is made with Brandy instead of Rye
- A Royal Manhattan which uses Crown Royal instead of Rye
- A Ruby Manhattan which is made with port rather than vermouth
- A Metropolitan which is a Brandy Manhattan with a ratio of 3:1 cognac or brandy to vermouth
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