Manhattan Recipe

Chill glass

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

Measure and combine

In a mixing glass add 2 oz rye whiskey, 1 oz sweet vermouth, and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters.

Add ice and stir

Fill the mixing glass with plenty of ice (about 6 large pieces). Stir gently and steadily with a bar spoon for about 20–30 seconds (roughly 15–20 full revolutions) until well chilled and slightly diluted. The mixture should feel very cold to the back of your hand and the outside of the mixing glass should frost.

Prepare glass

If you used ice water to chill the glass, dump it now. If you used the freezer, remove the glass and blot any condensation with a towel.

Strain and garnish

Using a julep or Hawthorne strainer, strain the cocktail into the chilled coupe or martini glass. Garnish with 1 maraschino cherry dropped into the drink. If using, twist the orange peel over the cocktail to express the oils, optionally rub the peel around the rim, then discard or drop in as additional garnish.

Serve

Serve immediately—Manhattan is best enjoyed very cold and slightly viscous from stirring and dilution.