Manhattan

The Manhattan is one of America's greatest cocktail achievements and the sophisticated sibling to the Old Fashioned. Created in the 1870s-1880s (possibly at New York's Manhattan Club or by a bartender named Black), this whiskey-vermouth cocktail represents urban sophistication and cocktail elegance. The classic recipe combines rye whiskey (or bourbon), sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters, stirred with ice and strained into a chilled coupe glass, garnished with a brandied cherry. The standard ratio (2:1 whiskey to vermouth) creates a spirit-forward cocktail with complex sweetness and spice. The Manhattan embodies New York sophistication, cocktail craft, and the golden age of drinking. Its variations include the Perfect Manhattan (half sweet, half dry vermouth), Dry Manhattan (dry vermouth only), and Rob Roy (Scotch instead of whiskey). The drink demands quality ingredients: good rye whiskey, fresh vermouth (not oxidized), and proper technique. The Manhattan represents pre-Prohibition cocktail culture, the original American cocktail tradition, and the art of stirred drinks. Its association with New York power lunches, theater district elegance, and classic cocktail bars makes it timeless. Whether served in a Midtown steakhouse or a craft cocktail bar, the Manhattan delivers sophisticated whiskey drinking.