This was once the most famous cocktail in the world shortly after it was invented some time around 1880 in New York’s Manhattan Club bar. It was invented by Dr Marshall for a banquet hosted by Lady Randolph Churchill, mother of Winston in honour of presidential candidate Samuel J. Tilden. The success of the banquet made the drink fashionable, later prompting several people to request the drink by referring to the name of the club where it originated—”the Manhattan cocktail”. Unfortunately, like most cocktail stories this one is also likely to be fiction as Lady Randolph was in France at the time and pregnant…
Whiskey has dropped in and out of fashion over the years, but it has finally found its place as a respectable drink. Amazingly this drink hasn’t changed all that much since it was created. Served at any decent cocktail bar it should look and taste the same.
If you’re a fan of the Old Fashioned cocktail this just might be the cocktail for you!
Ingredients
- 2 shots of bourbon or rye
- 1 short sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 dash orange bitters
- Garnish: brandied cherry
Manhattan Cocktail Recipe
- Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, and stir until well-chilled.
- Strain into a chilled coupe.
- Garnish with a brandied cherry.
| Ingredient | Volume | Units | Price |
| Whiskey | 2 x shots (50ml) | 2.00 | £0.50 |
| Vermouth | 1 x shots (25ml) | 0.30 | £0.33 |
| Orange Bitters | Few drops | N/A | £0.02 |
| Angostura bitters | Few drops | N/A | £0.02 |
| 77ml | 2.30 | £0.87 ($0* €0*) |
*Based off Open Exchange Rates from GBP total.
