American · Bulleit Rye
Bulleit Rye Manhattan
A Manhattan was a rye drink long before bourbon took over American shelves, and Bulleit Rye is 95 per cent rye, which is about as pure as it gets at this price. That pepper is what keeps the sweet vermouth in check.
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Ingredients
- BULLEIT RYE WHISKEY 750ML
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Cherry to garnish
- Ice for stirring
You will also need
Method
- Add rye, vermouth and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir for thirty seconds. Never shake it. Shaking clouds the drink and bruises the vermouth.
- Strain into a chilled coupe.
- Drop in a cherry. A proper one, not the neon kind.
The one thing that matters
Stir it, never shake. Shaking clouds the drink and bruises the vermouth. Thirty seconds in a mixing glass with ice is the whole technique.
Questions
Should a Manhattan use rye or bourbon?
Rye is the original and most bartenders prefer it. The pepper in rye balances the sweet vermouth. Bourbon makes a softer, sweeter Manhattan, which some people prefer. Neither is wrong.
What is the Manhattan ratio?
Two parts rye to one part sweet vermouth, plus two dashes of aromatic bitters. Stir with ice for thirty seconds and strain into a chilled coupe.
Why do you stir a Manhattan instead of shaking it?
Shaking adds air and tiny ice chips, which makes the drink cloudy and thin. Every spirit-only cocktail is stirred for the same reason. Shaking is for drinks with juice or egg in them.