The Manhatten making a comeback?

We just spent 15 days in Ca. 11 in Palm Desert, 4 in Beverly Hills, all the rage in BH is the Manhatten, heard about it as a kid, in movies and such. Any Manhatten fans out there? My daughter tried one and loved it, What's in it...I could google it, I suppose.

Geezzz, I didn't know Manhattens ever went away.
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My Dad liked Manhattans, I'm not a fan. Nice to see an old classic come back into fashion.

I'm waiting for the Ramos Fizz to make a comeback.

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Geezzz, I didn't know Manhattens ever went away.
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My neighbor used to make them by the pitcher for her husband.  Now that he is gone, she offers to mix me a Manhattan whenever I visit. 

A good cocktail.

  Manhattan:

4 parts whiskey
1 part sweet vermouth
1 maraschino cherry
1 cube sugar
4-5 cubes ice
splash soda water
orange slice

 In the bottom of  a pint glass muddle the cherry and the sugar cube. Add the whiskey, vermouth, and the ice. Place a shaker glass over the top and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass and splash with soda water. Garnish with orange slice. 

David O.

They're so delicious. Certainly classic cocktails have come back, and of course there's the whole "mixologist" thing going on, where bartenders make lovely drinks using home made infused liqueurs and fresh juices, etc. My personal opinion is that the white liquors (vodka and rum) have been around for awhile, and now the brown liqueurs (bourbon, scotch, rye) are making a comeback. And I say, bring 'em on!!!

The classic Manhattan: 2 or more parts Rye Whiskey (Bourbon is OK, but Scotch makes it a Rob Roy- also an excellent drink)
                                     1 part Sweet Vermouth
                                      Dash of Angostura Bitters
                                      1 Maraschino Cherry
Stir with lots of ice, strain into a Martini glass ( or heavy tumbler, if you prefer), add the cherry and serve. 

Never, ever, add sugar to a Manhattan - sugar goes into Old Fashioneds.


Edit: I rarely ever drink a Manhattan, but if I do and I make it for myself it is 5 parts Whiskey to 1 part Sweet Vermouth. Old Overholt is a good rye for this drink.
Cheers, John                  

seafarer john


The classic Manhattan: 2 or more parts Rye Whiskey (Bourbon is OK, but Scotch makes it a Rob Roy- also an excellent drink)
                                    1 part Sweet Vermouth
                                     Dash of Angostura Bitters
                                      1 Maraschino Cherry
 

Yeah, don't forget the Bitters.
Either 'up or on the rocks, I'll drink 'em both.
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My drink of choice is often a Dry CC Manhatten.

1 part dry Martini & Rossi vermouth
4 parts Canadian Club in a tub topped with ice, garnished with a skewer of pickled mushrooms

Too boozy for me.

Now if Ramos Gin Fizz is on the menu it's my order every single time.  

I LOVE that drink!

Best was not in New Orleans but in California at Sam's Anchor Cafe in Tiburon.

However,  I'm older now so if the Manhattan is one of the specials I'll give it another try.

seafarer john


The classic Manhattan: 2 or more parts Rye Whiskey (Bourbon is OK, but Scotch makes it a Rob Roy- also an excellent drink)
                                    1 part Sweet Vermouth
                                     Dash of Angostura Bitters
                                      1 Maraschino Cherry
Stir with lots of ice, strain into a Martini glass ( or heavy tumbler, if you prefer), add the cherry and serve. 

Never, ever, add sugar to a Manhattan - sugar goes into Old Fashioneds.

Cheers, John                  

I'll confirm no Sugar!  Also,  easy with the sweet vermouth.  I tend to like Makers Mark Bourbon.  It's hard to find a good rye most of the time... 

It is my drink of choice.  I use Seagram's 7, and sweet vermouth.  Not much vermouth, and that is it.  Perhaps a splash of water so I don't have to follow it with a tums. :)

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Geezzz, I didn't know Manhattens ever went away.
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I missed that memo, too! Make mine with bourbon, on the rocks.

I got a brother who is big on these.  I never developed a taste for them.  Potent.  He makes a whole big production out of making them, too.  I don't know if it's the bitters or the vermouth but I don't like them.  I've seen him pretty gooned up on Manhattans, though.  They seem to get the job done.

I've been doing my part!

Pikesville rye works well

I have had Manhattan or two almost every day since Christmas 1949----so this year I am celebrating 60 years and approximately 21,000 Bourbon Manhattans. 

None of those fancy recipes with a splash of this or a splash of that

2 bourbons---to one sweet vermouth ---- a cherry and a little cherry juice once in a while, and a dash of bitters if available.  

Best in the past-----Linck's Log Cabin---Huntington, NY

Best recent ---Piper's Kilt ---Eastchester, NY

Best ever, all time------Roy's Penrose, NC----
Roy's ain't open for business, it's just Roy and me,
sitting on his deck in the Blue Ridge Mountains looking out at about 20 miles of valley to the next nearest mountain.    A pitcher of manhattans, a bucket of ice and some steaks coming to room temperature and a fire starting to glow in the grill.  It don't
get much better than that. 

Here in these parts of the Blue Ridge, I have moved to Manhattans from the Martini. I make my Manhattans with a similar ratio of 2 ounces Bourbon, to a capful of sweet vermouth. Bitters make a big difference. My friend likes Scotch so a Rob Roy  with White Horse scotch is fine too.
Our town just passed a new law allowing mixed drinks in a restaurant. I haven't tried one yet.
These parts of the Blue Ridge is covered with a foot and a half of the heaviest snow in recent years. I don't think Penrose got near as much as we did. Calls for a refill.

the ancient mariner

Best recent ---Piper's Kilt ---Eastchester, NY

Going a little off topic...Is Piper's still making a killer burger?

John W and Cavandre

Spoke to Roy in Penrose this morning----10 inches there-----he slid down the 1/2 mile winding driveway in his truck , but had trouble getting back up.  Too early at 830 to
break out the booze, but by 3 pm the sun will sink over the yardarm. 

Yessiree Piper's Kilt still has the best burger in Westchester, and the longest wait, and the noisiest dining area.  But, it still has the best collection of sport stars on the walls.  Can't wait to get back for my favorite------the Eastchester, medium rare !!!! 

JRPfeff

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Geezzz, I didn't know Manhattans ever went away.
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My neighbor used to make them by the pitcher for her husband.  Now that he is gone, she offers to mix me a Manhattan whenever I visit. 

A good cocktail.

If she made them by the PITCHER! for him, no wonder he's "Gone"!. Just don't make her a Beneficiary on your Insurance Policy!
 
Back in the Mid 60's I drank a copious quantity of those devils one night & got deathly ill. I had to get better to die! Ever since, I can't stand to look at one and the smell of one makes me want to heave!

Foodbme


If she made them by the PITCHER! for him, no wonder he's "Gone"!. Just don't make her a Beneficiary on your Insurance Policy!
 

Funny you should mention that.  Dear Ol' John did seem to go downhill rather quickly.  And his widow wasted no time finding a new beau and moving in with him ...

I wonder if your average sports bar which seems to dominate our area even serves these?

ces1948


I wonder if your average sports bar which seems to dominate our area even serves these?

The average sports bar doesn't even know where Manhattan is other than it's close to the Meadowlands let alone know how to make one! Can you say, "A shot & A Beer!" 

Try Pikesville rye,  if you can get it

In in our family, it never went away.  My 85 yr old dad got busted carrying some in a Plax bottle on a Norwegian cruise. 

mar52


Too boozy for me.

Now if Ramos Gin Fizz is on the menu it's my order every single time.  

I LOVE that drink!

Best was not in New Orleans but in California at Sam's Anchor Cafe in Tiburon.

However,  I'm older now so if the Manhattan is one of the specials I'll give it another try.

Sam's!!!!---great bar and killer bartenders!

I thought Manhattans have been reasonably popular over the years, so didn't realize there was a need for a comeback. OTOH, I've noticed that the old Sidecar seems to be gaining some popularity lately. In general, I think "nostalgia drinks" are doing quite well these days. Unfortunately, too many places take shortcuts: I have to stay home and do my own bartending if I want a proper whisky sour.

Ordered a bourbon Manhattan "straight up" at a local restaurant the other night.
When the bill arrived I was charged an extra dollar.  I questioned the waiter. he told me that the $4.95 regular price is "On The Rocks".
 
Eliminating the ice used that much more booze.  Therefore $1.00 extra.

60 years sipping Manhattans in "all the gin joints in the world" and
never heard that one before.  They lost a customer that fateful evening.

I forgot to mention the cherry juice.  Another poster mentioned it, and I always add a little when I use cherries.  Sometimes just the juice, and no cherry.  A bartender a long time ago "learned" me that trick.

BarbaraCt


I forgot to mention the cherry juice.  Another poster mentioned it, and I always add a little when I use cherries.  Sometimes just the juice, and no cherry. 

That would cause some serious trouble on the home front! The BH doesn't like Manhattans, but she loves the cherry soaked in one. This is not a problem when we're at home, but it is somewhat embarassing when we're dining out. The bartender asks me what I want & I reply "Bourbon Manhattan, on the rocks". A gentle (sometimes not so gentle) elbow in the ribs prompts me to add "Oh yeah, with two cherries!".

Regarding the Manhattan with Cherry and/or Cherry Juice ------
The man who taught me to drink these wonderful concoctions
(my father-in-law) would always add a bit of the juice with the cherry
and he got me addicted.  Then my old buddy Roy either learned it
from me, or knew it all along----the juice just adds a tiny touch of sweetness
 
AND----sweetness is essential in life.  That's why Mary and I get along---we are both very sweet.  Cav---I assume you are the same.
 
 
 
 
 

Okay... ordered a Manhattan twice now in two different palces.  Not going to order it a 3rd time.  I just don't fit the profile.

  I like a Manhattan once in a while, but I really prefer bourbon and water. The sweetness of the cherry gives me heartburn. The bitters may also have something to do with it.



  JMHO

David O.

p.s. I am pretty sure that I included a cherry in my original post but forgot to include the bitters.

The classic manhattan, in the middle of the last century, was one of the most popular cocktails in the USA.  Absent any qualifiers, it was made with rye whiskey, sweet Italian vermouth, bitters and a cherry.  They were served in "martini" glasses, after having been shaken or stirred with ice (the ice did not go in the glass).  Proportions varied from 2:1 whiskey to vermouth, all the way to 5:1.  As with the martini, stirring it produces a more translucent result.

I's just a little "E" instead of an "A", but it's been driving me crazy . Please, POWERS THAT BE, correct that little misspelling in the title of this thread.

Cheers, John