Manhattan Recipe

Chill glass

Place a coupe or martini glass in the freezer or fill it with ice water to chill while you mix the drink.

Combine ingredients

In a mixing glass or cocktail shaker (not shaken, but stirred), add 2 oz White Cap whiskey, 1 oz sweet vermouth, and 2 dashes Angostura bitters.

Add ice and stir

Fill the mixing glass with large ice cubes. Stir gently but thoroughly for 20–30 seconds (about 20–25 revolutions) until the mixture is well chilled and slightly diluted. The exterior of the glass should feel very cold and slightly frosted.

Prepare glass

If you used ice water to chill the glass, discard the ice/water and dry the glass briefly. If chilled in the freezer, remove it just before straining.

Strain and garnish

Using a julep or Hawthorne strainer, strain the stirred cocktail into the chilled coupe or martini glass. Garnish with one maraschino cherry dropped into the drink. Optionally express an orange twist over the surface to release oils, then drop or rest it on the rim.

Serve

Present immediately. The Manhattan is served straight up (no ice). Sip and enjoy.

Rinse or discard used ice, and wash the mixing glass, strainer, and bar spoon. Taste and adjust proportions in future batches if you prefer a drier or sweeter Manhattan (reduce vermouth for drier, increase vermouth for sweeter).

For a slightly drier Manhattan, use 3/4 oz sweet vermouth and 1 1/4 oz whiskey. For a perfect Manhattan, use equal parts sweet and dry vermouth.