The Manhattan is one of the cocktail classics. It’s among the most iconic Whiskey cocktails; it is also one of the oldest, with quite a lively history.
The simple yet elegant mix of very few ingredients makes the classic Manhattan Cocktail delicious and easy to mix. Its base is Bourbon or Rye Whiskey and Sweet Vermouth, bound together by a few drops ofcocktail bitters.
The flavor profile is appealing to novices and seasoned drinkers alike. TheVermouth adds a subtle sweetness and deep flavors, which work great with Rye and Bourbon.
So, here’s the history of this somewhat underrated Manhattan Cocktail. Read when it came up, who invented it, and how it got its name .
There are many versions of the history of the invention of the Manhattan cocktail. What is certain is that it dates back to the mid-1800s and has been one of the first – if not the first- cocktails to include Sweet Vermouth.
As with many of the vintage classic cocktails, it is hard to tell who mixed them first. However, of the many claims and tales, two stories stand out. -One a little more glamorous, the other, according to historians, more credible.
The first story conveys that the Manhattan cocktail originates from the Manhattan Club in New York City. For a long time, many newspapers and blogs took that at face value. However, eventually, it turned out that the foundation is quite weak.
The club explained that the drink had been a creation for a party held in late 1874 by Lady Randolph Churchill for presidential candidate S.J. Tilden. -Churchill, as in Winston Churchill’s mother.
That claim was supported in a newspaper column by Patrick Murphy in March 1945. He wrote that there had been a memorable party on the evening of December 29th at the Manhattan Club in honor of Samuel J. Tilden.
According to Murphy, a drink made of „American Whiskey, Italian Vermouth, and Angostura Bitters” preceded said dinner. However, he also pointed out that one should remain dubious, as it may well be that the drink had been served before already.
Since Lady Randolph was not even in the US in December 1874, the rest of the story may well be made up either. She had given birth to Winston Churchill just four weeks prior to the date of the alleged dinner and spent some time in France. – And even if that party had taken place and Manhattans had been served, that would not mean the cocktail wasn’t invented before.
Ingredients：
- 50ml of Canadian Club whiskey
- 25ml sweet vermouth
- 3 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Ice
Directions: Combine whiskey, vermouth, and bitters in a cocktail mixing class. Add ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
For the convenience of everyone’s purchase, Liquor Town offers the classic Manhattan cocktail set. If you don’t like the combination, you can also buy them separately. Click on the images to BUY NOW。
Classic Manhattan Cocktail Bundle：This classic Manhattan cocktail is classic for a reason! Whiskey, sweet vermouth plus a secret ingredient that gives a little twist on the original drink!
Martini Rosso：Martini Rosso is claimed to be the world’s first vermouth. The distinctive colour is produced by the addition of caramel, which also tempers the bittersweet effect of the 50+ herbs and spices used in production.
Elegant and soft, Martini Rosso is a rich blend of Italian herbs, warmwood and mint, with a distinctive oak character. Its complex and alluring taste makes it a staple in iconic cocktails such as the Nigroni and Manhattan.
Martini Extra Dry Vermouth：Martini Extra Dry was launched on New Year’s Day 1900. Elegant, delicate and very cool, it is the essential ingredient and the perfect mixer. Martini Extra Dry vermouth adds a delicious bouquet of raspberry, lemon and subtle hints of iris to any drink with a dry white wine taste that’s never bitter.
Characterized by its pale colour and fresh and fruity aromas, captured in every drop is the essence of the rare woods, herbs and citrus that make up this secret recipe. Martini Extra Dry is delicious over ice with lemonade or apple juice.
Canadian Club：Canadian Club is the renowned Canadian flagship whisky is where most folks begin their whisky journey. This is the one that started the legend. A giant of Canadian whisky since 1858, it’s aged longer than the 3 years required by law in oak barrels before bottling for the smoothest possible flavour.
Buffalo Trace：Buffalo Trace Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey is distilled, aged and bottled at the most award-winning distillery in the world. Made from the finest corn, rye and barley malt. This whiskey ages in new oak barrels for years in century old warehouses until the peak of maturity. The taste is rich and complex, with hints of vanilla, toffee and candied fruit. The smooth finish lingers on the palate. This will never change.
Angostura Bitters：Angostura Bitters is one of those things that you never buy, but if you like your booze, you almost always need. Not a lot, but a few drops here and a few drops there, can make the difference between a cocktail that tastes like the base liquor, and something that tastes good enough to be thrown around in a cocktail shaker by Tom Cruise himself. It never goes bad – because it’s 44.7% alcohol, and preserves itself.
