The original “Manhattan” cocktail, a mix of American whiskey, 
Italian vermouth and Angostura bitters, was said to have been concocted by Dr. Iain Marshall in the early 1870s for the special occasion of the visit of Lady Randolph Churchill (Winston’s mother). The function was a banquet in honor of then presidential candidate Samuel J. Tilden. The venue was the famous Manhattan Club in New York City. Although others argue that the “sling” was invented in the 1860s by a bartender who worked at a local bar. Sling, of course, it what people in the late 1800s used to call drinks or cocktails.
Whether one or the other, the “Manhattan became the craze of that generation and its popularity still prevails after almost 150 years. Traditionalists insist that a Manhattan should be made with rye whiskey. Others, however, prefer Canadian whiskey or bourbon.
TheManhattan is an official cocktail of the IBA (International Bartenders Organization), and according to their strict rules, a Manhattan should be composed of:
- 50ml rye or Canadian whisky
- 20ml sweet red vermouth
- Dash Angostura bitters
- Maraschino cherry
Over the years, however, the Manhattan has been subject to innovations and variations. Here are the most popular:
- A DRY MANHATTAN is made with dry vermouth instead of sweet vermouth and served with a twist.
- A PERFECT MANHATTAN is made with equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth.
- A BRANDY MANHATTAN is made with brandy instead of whiskey
- A METROPOLITAN is made with brandy instead of whiskey and has a ration of 3 to 1 brandy to vermouth
- A ROYAL MANHATTAN is made with Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey
- A ROB ROY is made with Scotch whiskey
- A RUBY MANHATTAN is made with port instead of vermouth
There are also versions with rum, Southern Comfort or tequila, to name a few, leading to the conclusion that, as long as there are bartenders, there will be new and innovative versions of the Manhattan.
Next time you’re in the mood for a Manhattan, you know where to stop: Manhattan’s American Bar & Grill, where we give you and this drink the importance you both deserve!
