CLASSIC COCKTAIL · 1850–1889
Manhattan
Rye, sweet vermouth and bitters stirred to a deep red: the quintessential American cocktail.
1860s–70sHistorical classicResearched
The Manhattan emerged in the 1860s–70s and is regarded as the first modern cocktail for adding vermouth to an Old Fashioned-style whiskey drink. The first known mention is in an 1882 Olean Democrat column, with the first full recipe in O. H. Byron’s 1884 The Modern Bartender’s Guide. The most plausible origin story credits George Black, who ran the Manhattan Inn on Broadway, though the Manhattan Club legend persists.
THE RECIPERich, spicy and smooth
Ingredients
- Rye whiskey60 ml
- Sweet vermouth30 ml
- Angostura bitters2 dashes
- Cherryto garnish
Method
Stir the rye, vermouth and bitters with ice until very cold. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry.
Cocktail glass · no ice · cherry