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WhatDrink

Cocktails

Manhattan

Manhattan is a polished, spirit-forward cocktail with a bitter, medium-bodied profile. It works well as an after-dinner drink or a slower evening serve when something classic and composed fits the mood.

Reviewed by How we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction
Cocktailalcoholic38.1% ABV6 ingredients

At a Glance

223 kcalCalories
38.1%ABV
2.2gSugar
3.1gCarbs
2.08Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderatestirred drink

Why: 6 ingredients, stirred drink, requires bar spoon

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

How to Make It

  1. Stirred over ice, strained into a chilled glass, garnished, and served up.Stirred

Why it works

Why the Manhattan works

The Manhattan works because sweet vermouth softens whiskey while bitters add structure and spice. Stirring with ice gives the drink enough dilution to feel polished rather than hot.

How to Serve

Glass
Cocktail Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Ice
Method
Stirred
Served Chilled

Serving tips

Serving tips

Stir until well chilled and serve in a chilled glass or over good ice. Keep the sweetness measured so the whiskey remains the main flavor.

Taste

What does a Manhattan taste like?

A Manhattan is rich, spirit-forward and gently sweet, with whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters creating a smooth aromatic profile. It feels deeper and warmer than a citrus sour.

Primary flavours

SpiceBitterCaramel

Supporting notes

HerbalOakRed FruitSweetVanilla

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong
BodyLight – Full
SweetnessDry – Sweet
BoldnessDelicate – Bold
  • High ABV
  • Full-bodied
  • Bold and complex

What do these dimensions mean?

About this drink

The Manhattan is a 19th-century New York classic, but the famous Manhattan Club banquet story is likely not reliable. Earlier references and similar recipes make it safer to describe the drink as emerging from New York cocktail culture rather than from one confirmed event.

When to serve

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

BBQSteakGrilled Meat

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-FreeVeganVegetarian

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Sweet Vermouth3/4 oz

Rosso VermouthGood swap
How much to use
Use the same amount; adjust only for the specific bottle’s sweetness and bitterness.
What changes
Rosso vermouth is a sweet red vermouth and is usually a close replacement for a generic sweet vermouth.

Bourbon2 1/2 oz Blended

Rye WhiskeyWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use the same amount; adjust sweetener if the drink becomes too dry.
What changes
Rye whiskey can replace bourbon when a spicier, drier version is acceptable.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Angostura Bittersdash

Aromatic BittersWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Start with the recipe’s dash count and taste before adding more.
What changes
Another aromatic bitters can replace Angostura when some change in spice and fruit character is acceptable.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
Orange BittersNot a neutral swap
How much to use
Start with the recipe’s dash count and taste; the result will lose some baking-spice character.
What changes
Orange bitters can replace Angostura only when a brighter, more citrus-led result is acceptable.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Orange Peel1 twist of

Orange TwistGood swap
How much to use
Use a similar-sized twist.
What changes
An orange twist is usually a close substitute for orange peel.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a Manhattan at home?
Yes. The Manhattan uses 6 ingredients, making it more involved to prepare at home. You will need a Cocktail Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.