House Manhattan/margarita Recipe

chill glass

Place a coupe or rocks glass in the freezer or fill it with ice water to chill while you build the cocktail.

measure & add

In a mixing glass, add 2.25 oz rye or bourbon, 0.75 oz sweet vermouth, and 2 dashes of the house bitter blend.

stir

Fill the mixing glass with plenty of ice (about 1 cup). Stir gently with a bar spoon for 20–30 seconds until well-chilled and properly diluted (mixture should be very cold and slightly viscous).

strain & garnish

Discard ice from the chilled serving glass. Double-strain the mixture into the chilled coupe or rocks glass using a Hawthorne and fine strainer if available. Express the orange peel over the drink (optional) and drop it in or discard. Finish with 1 maraschino cherry on a pick.

serve

Serve immediately. Note tasting: adjust future batches by using 2:1 whiskey to vermouth ratio or changing bitters to suit preference.

prepare glass

If salting the rim, run a lime wedge around the outside rim of a rocks or coupe glass, then dip the outside rim into a small plate of coarse salt. Set the glass aside.

measure & combine

In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz reposado tequila, 0.75 oz fresh lime juice, 0.75 oz orange liqueur, and 0.5 oz simple syrup (or agave).

add ice & shake

Fill the shaker with ice (about 1 cup). Shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until the shaker is very cold and the outside is frosted.

strain & garnish

Double-strain into the prepared glass over fresh ice or serve neat in a chilled coupe. Garnish with a lime wheel on the rim.

serve

Serve immediately. Taste and adjust future batches by altering the sweetener (more syrup for sweeter, less for brighter) or swapping blanco tequila for a lighter profile.