Manhattan Recipe

Chill glass

Place a coupe or martini glass in the freezer for 5–10 minutes or fill it with ice water while you prepare the cocktail to chill it.

Combine ingredients

Fill a mixing glass or a large heatproof glass with plenty of ice. Pour in 2 oz rye whiskey (substitute bourbon if preferred), 1 oz sweet vermouth, and add 2 dashes of Angostura bitters.

Stir

Using a bar spoon, stir the mixture steadily for 20–30 seconds (about 20–30 full spoon rotations) until well chilled and slightly diluted. The drink should be very cold and the outside of the mixing glass slightly frosted.

Prepare glass

If you chilled the glass with ice water, dump the water now. If you used the freezer, remove the glass.

Strain and garnish

Double-strain or use a julep or Hawthorne strainer to pour the chilled cocktail into the prepared glass. Thread 1 maraschino cherry onto a cocktail pick and rest it in the glass. Express the oil from 1/2 orange peel over the surface by holding it skin-side down and giving it a quick twist, then optionally rub the rim with the peel and drop it into the drink.

Serve

Serve immediately. Note: Adjust the whiskey-to-vermouth ratio to taste (2:1 is classic).