Barrel Aged Grand Marnier Manhattan Recipe
Buffalo Trace bourbon, Grand Marnier barrel aged, served up with an orange twist.
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Ingredients
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Cocktail
Optional tools & finishing
Method
Cocktail
Combine ingredients
Into a mixing glass add 2 oz Buffalo Trace bourbon, 1 oz barrel-aged Grand Marnier, and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters.
Add ice and stir
Add large ice cubes (or a single large block) to the mixing glass until nearly full. Using a bar spoon, stir gently for 30–45 seconds (about 20–30 full spoon rotations) until the mixture is well chilled and properly diluted (target ~20–25% dilution from melting). The stirring should produce a slightly viscous, satin texture.
Prepare garnish
While stirring, take a fresh orange and use a peeler or channel knife to cut a wide, long strip of peel (about 2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide). Hold the peel with the outside (zest) facing down over the chilled glass and give it a firm twist to release the oils across the surface of the drink.
Strain and finish
Discard the ice or water from the chilled serving glass. Using a julep or Hawthorne strainer, double-strain (if desired) the stirred cocktail into the chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass, taking care to leave any small shards of ice behind.
Garnish and serve
Express the orange oils again if desired, then drop the twisted peel into the drink or rest it on the rim. Add a Luxardo maraschino cherry on a pick and place it in the glass. Serve immediately, up (no ice).
Tools & optional steps
If you prefer a slightly sweeter Manhattan profile, reduce the bitters to 1 dash and increase the Grand Marnier to 1.25 oz. For a drier result, keep specified proportions. Optionally, if you have access to a smoked or charred glass rinse, briefly swirl a teaspoon of leftover Grand Marnier in the serving glass, discard excess, then strain the cocktail in to add an extra barrel/wood note.
If using standard non-barrel-aged Grand Marnier, consider briefly aging the bottle with a small charred oak spiral or using a barrel-aged cognac to approximate the barrel profile. Adjust to taste.