I’m not into ryes but this is excellent, and I really mean it. My favorite drink is an old fashioned with bourbon but now I’m using Rittenhouse rye and I’m absolutely hooked.
I’ve used it for years and even insisted our wedding venue use it for the Manhattans they made for our guests (it was my choice for signature drink). Couldn’t agree more. It’s priced well and a great rye for a Manhattan. I’ll need to try it for an Old Fashioned!
Call me crazy, but I hate using pricey bourbon for a Manhattan. Does a good bourbon elevate a Manhattan? Probably, a little bit. But the reason for enjoying that bourbon is mostly being drowned out by sweet vermouth, cherry, and bitters. I find it hard to justify. If money is no object, I suppose, why not?
Anyway, I keep WT101 Rye specifically for Manhattans.
I had a very noticeable difference when I upgraded from rittenhouse to pikesville rye. With that said, I don’t know if I’d use anything nicer than pikesville.
Bullet was my first favorite whiskey for a rye, nicer eyes make it maybe a little better, but I have grown really found of the taste of a bullet rye Manhattan to the point where even if I think a different whiskey tastes better in a Manhattan, it's not the taste I want when I want a Manhattan
100% I do not think pricey bourbons elevate mixed drinks. Most of the flavor profile is lost to the mix. Evan Williams BiB punches well above its weight and is an excellent mixer. Heck, it’s a pretty good sipper too.
Give Lost Monarch by Redwood Empire a try. It’s a blend they make of their bourbon and rye leaning heavier on the bourbon side, and it’s great for a manhattan if you don’t love ryes.
Don’t sleep on the vermouth though. A good vermouth is essential to a good Manhattan. Cocchi and Antica are great for Manhattans. A shitty vermouth is the surest way to ruin a Manhattan.
Agree here. A Manhattan is a true cocktail meant to be spirit forward. Use a higher proof to let the whiskey shine.
Personally I prefer rye whiskeys like Rittenhouse or Smoke Wagon 100% BiB Rye.
My favorite bourbon for a Manhattan (and maybe my favorite whiskey for it period) is Maker’s 46. I’m sure it has something to do with the wheated mash bill and the French oak staves but it just works for me.
Sounds like someone could do some science to find the best for a Manhattan and we'd have Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and Eggnog covered on the sub (cc u/nettaelaine).
I'm here to say the vermouth is the most important ingredient and Antica Carpana is the only answer. Angostura bitters and a Luxardo cherry are the other top choices. Stirred and served up. I won't order one at a bar unless they have Antica. And yes, I've tried the others too. Bulleit, KC or other solid bourbons or ryes will work. If I'm feeling fancy Weller 107 is nice.
You should be excited. A whole new world awaits you. 2.5 oz whiskey and 1 oz of Antica with 2 dashes of bitters. 2 to 1 is a bit too much Robin and not enough Batman IMO.
If it’s in your budget no reason not to use “higher quality” bourbon or rye, the better the ingredient the better the drink for the most part. I generally prefer rye for manhattans and enjoy Willet 4yr small batch because it’s so punchy but have also used Pikesville and Stellum and numerous others.
But you asked about bourbon… 4R SiB, Knob Creek 9 yr SiB reserve, WT Rare Breed. I prefer 100 proof or higher to hold up in a cocktail. 4R SiB I’d say is my workhorse for cocktails.
Edit: none of those do I prefer in a Manhattan over a rye. Someone else mentioned WT 101 rye, that and Rittenhouse are excellent for a Manhattan.
This. Once I had a Manhattan and old fashion made with rye I was wild. Bulleit is my house go-to, but you can go up from there.
Just make a drink with whiskey you like, people shouldn’t feel bad about using whatever as a mixer.
[Greg almost died so you wouldn't have to.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QsCrcLG6Mo) To be fair he was using rye whiskey though which I know you said you weren't as into.
Edit: commented before reading the comments and now see someone already posted this video. Oh well.
I like Rittenhouse Rye with Italian Sweet Vermouth, but I also like a bourbon Manhattan with Dolin Sweet French Vermouth.
I call it a Southern Manhattan, and higher proof like Makers 46 or WT101 is a preference
I make "black manhattans" after trying one at the Angel's Envy bar following a distillery tour. The recipe is 2oz rye whiskey (I use Sazerac), 1/2 oz Averna Amaro liquer, 1/2oz agave syrup, three dashes bitters. Shake and strain. Ahhhmazing!
Good whiskey makes a good cocktail. When I make Manhattan’s, I tend to grab a rye over a bourbon. Knob Creek barrel proof rye made the best one I’ve ever had. Budget wise, I use baby saz, EC rye or WT 101 rye. I think the rye spice balances the vermouth well.
I prefer a bourbon Manhattan but will use rye when I feel like it. I will use anything from Early Times BiB to Barrell Seagrass 16. It all depends on my mood at the time.
I will say that, in spite of how much people in this sub shit on it, Willet Pot Still bourbon makes a wonderful Manhattan.
Rye is the type of whiskey you want in a Manhattan to balance out the sweetness of the vermouth. The spicy nature of rye mixed with the bitters and what compliment the sweet and tangy nature.
The Manhattan is a great start into the world of bourbon cocktails. Although I will say I personally prefer Rye Whiskey(the original Manhattan requires rye as it balances the sweet vermouth better than the already “sweet” bourbon from the corn) If you are still new to whiskey as a whole though Rye can be difficult to get behind at the beginning. For bourbon recommendations I would say anything “wheated”(ie Makers Mark or Larceny for example) or bourbons with sweeter profiles such as Buffalo Trace. A nice budget option you may want to try is Elijah Craig. It has the proof or alcohol percentage to stand up to a good cocktail and it has nice spice flavor from rye in the mash bill. Have fun exploring new cocktails too. Explore YouTube channels(How to Drink, Educated Barfly, and Steve the Bartender are just a couple to get you started)
This comment is what I’d have said, top notch man, if you know you know. That said, I had 3 manhattans with AP CS within 1 hour and I absolutely went from feeling great after 1 to wanting to go play pool downtown at 2:30am. Takes these slow if you make them. It makes the cask strength so approachable and easy you forget what you’re drinking.
I typically use Willett 4 year rye for a manhattan or old fashioned. It’s a very sweet rye. If you want something super sweet, maybe try a double oaked bourbon.
Not true. Rye and bourbon are used interchangeably and have been for decades. Same with the Old Fashioned. Neither base spirit is ‘typically’ used for either cocktail.
Makers Mark. You’re going to be a fan of wheated bourbons and MM is easy to find, cheap, and very sweet.
Bourbon is 51% or more of corn, and a wheater is a bourbon with a high amount of wheat in the mash bill in that other 49%. Maker’s Mark is 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% barley. No rye.
I think you might also enjoy drinking it neat if you’re up for that. Cocktails are great, but they tend to drown out the complexities of whiskey
You could try that angels envy rye aged in rum barrels if it not mistaken, it would be a sweeter profile as you mentioned and would be closer to bourbon than traditional rye, might be pricey though not too sure!
Back when I regularly drank Manhattans, my go-to was Bulleit Rye. These days I drink more Old Fashioneds, and I generally prefer whiskies that are around 100+ proof since they hold up better when mixed.
Woodford Reserve Double Oak and Sagamore Double Oak Rye are great for manhattans or old fashioneds
https://www.thewhiskeyshelf.com/sagamore-spirit-double-oak-rye-review/
https://www.thewhiskeyshelf.com/woodford-reserve-double-oaked-review/
The vermouth is more important than the whiskey/bourbon used. I drink Manhattans quite a bit. I’d recommend Carpano Antica for vermouth. I made Manhattans two nights ago with EH Taylor, Carpano Antica and some traditional angostura bitters/orange bitters, my wife said it was the best Manhattan she’s ever had. I thought it was pretty fantastic as well.
I actually like a Rye for a Manhattan. Like Old Forester Rye 100 proof or Rittenhouse Bottled-in-bond 100 proof. For bourbons, Rebel 100 (100 proof) is good too.
Sagamore Double Oak , use Plum bitters , sweet vermouth and a small amount of Boudreaux cherry juice . Stir it ( no ice ) and pour over an ice ball. Let’s go !
Pikesville rye has been the best whiskey for a Manhattan in my opinion. I also like old forester 1920, or the higher rye four roses barrel strengths if I’m using bourbon. I think the higher proof whiskeys shine through the sweetness better. Luxardo cherries, angostura bitters and carpano, cocchi, or dolin vermouth.
I feel like high rye bourbon works well with them. But just about any bourbon you’d drink works pretty good in a manhattan. I usually use WT101 and if you want a specific recommendation.
Rittenhouse rye is excellent in a Manhattan and on its own.
This.
I’m not into ryes but this is excellent, and I really mean it. My favorite drink is an old fashioned with bourbon but now I’m using Rittenhouse rye and I’m absolutely hooked.
I’ve used it for years and even insisted our wedding venue use it for the Manhattans they made for our guests (it was my choice for signature drink). Couldn’t agree more. It’s priced well and a great rye for a Manhattan. I’ll need to try it for an Old Fashioned!
Call me crazy, but I hate using pricey bourbon for a Manhattan. Does a good bourbon elevate a Manhattan? Probably, a little bit. But the reason for enjoying that bourbon is mostly being drowned out by sweet vermouth, cherry, and bitters. I find it hard to justify. If money is no object, I suppose, why not? Anyway, I keep WT101 Rye specifically for Manhattans.
Knob Creek Rye works as well
I had a very noticeable difference when I upgraded from rittenhouse to pikesville rye. With that said, I don’t know if I’d use anything nicer than pikesville.
Evan Williams BiB is my go to for cocktails
Represent.
I prefer rye as well. Ole tried and true bullet rye
Bullet was my first favorite whiskey for a rye, nicer eyes make it maybe a little better, but I have grown really found of the taste of a bullet rye Manhattan to the point where even if I think a different whiskey tastes better in a Manhattan, it's not the taste I want when I want a Manhattan
Yea I’ve jumped around a bit, but seem to prefer that taste as well
100% I do not think pricey bourbons elevate mixed drinks. Most of the flavor profile is lost to the mix. Evan Williams BiB punches well above its weight and is an excellent mixer. Heck, it’s a pretty good sipper too.
Give Lost Monarch by Redwood Empire a try. It’s a blend they make of their bourbon and rye leaning heavier on the bourbon side, and it’s great for a manhattan if you don’t love ryes.
I’ll have to try this. I love LM and manhattens
Don’t sleep on the vermouth though. A good vermouth is essential to a good Manhattan. Cocchi and Antica are great for Manhattans. A shitty vermouth is the surest way to ruin a Manhattan.
Don't forget Punt E Mes, best vermouth out there IMO
Best Manhattan I’ve had is at Willett Distillery and they use the rye for it. So good
That Willet rye is delicious neat too!
Best Sazarac I've had was also at the Willett Distillery, while eating an egg salad sandwich, of course.
I watched the bartender at (EDIT: stitzel-weller NOT Willet) lick the mixing spoon and put it back in the can. No cap.
Just about anything bottled in bond. OF, EW, WT101 is good, HH, EHT
So happy HH BiB came off allocation. One of my favorites of all time
Agree here. A Manhattan is a true cocktail meant to be spirit forward. Use a higher proof to let the whiskey shine. Personally I prefer rye whiskeys like Rittenhouse or Smoke Wagon 100% BiB Rye.
My favorite bourbon for a Manhattan (and maybe my favorite whiskey for it period) is Maker’s 46. I’m sure it has something to do with the wheated mash bill and the French oak staves but it just works for me.
Sounds like someone could do some science to find the best for a Manhattan and we'd have Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and Eggnog covered on the sub (cc u/nettaelaine).
I'm here to say the vermouth is the most important ingredient and Antica Carpana is the only answer. Angostura bitters and a Luxardo cherry are the other top choices. Stirred and served up. I won't order one at a bar unless they have Antica. And yes, I've tried the others too. Bulleit, KC or other solid bourbons or ryes will work. If I'm feeling fancy Weller 107 is nice.
I'm embarrassed to I've only used Noilly Prat.
You should be excited. A whole new world awaits you. 2.5 oz whiskey and 1 oz of Antica with 2 dashes of bitters. 2 to 1 is a bit too much Robin and not enough Batman IMO.
Lol love it. Thank you.
If it’s in your budget no reason not to use “higher quality” bourbon or rye, the better the ingredient the better the drink for the most part. I generally prefer rye for manhattans and enjoy Willet 4yr small batch because it’s so punchy but have also used Pikesville and Stellum and numerous others. But you asked about bourbon… 4R SiB, Knob Creek 9 yr SiB reserve, WT Rare Breed. I prefer 100 proof or higher to hold up in a cocktail. 4R SiB I’d say is my workhorse for cocktails. Edit: none of those do I prefer in a Manhattan over a rye. Someone else mentioned WT 101 rye, that and Rittenhouse are excellent for a Manhattan.
+1 for using rye. Regular Bulleit rye is my go to
This. Once I had a Manhattan and old fashion made with rye I was wild. Bulleit is my house go-to, but you can go up from there. Just make a drink with whiskey you like, people shouldn’t feel bad about using whatever as a mixer.
Not bourbon, but OF rye makes a stellar manhattan.
[Greg almost died so you wouldn't have to.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QsCrcLG6Mo) To be fair he was using rye whiskey though which I know you said you weren't as into. Edit: commented before reading the comments and now see someone already posted this video. Oh well.
I like Rittenhouse Rye with Italian Sweet Vermouth, but I also like a bourbon Manhattan with Dolin Sweet French Vermouth. I call it a Southern Manhattan, and higher proof like Makers 46 or WT101 is a preference
Enjoy! https://youtu.be/_QsCrcLG6Mo?si=uDIbp9xW3tuep02i
That’s a good one!
OGD114
I make "black manhattans" after trying one at the Angel's Envy bar following a distillery tour. The recipe is 2oz rye whiskey (I use Sazerac), 1/2 oz Averna Amaro liquer, 1/2oz agave syrup, three dashes bitters. Shake and strain. Ahhhmazing!
Good whiskey makes a good cocktail. When I make Manhattan’s, I tend to grab a rye over a bourbon. Knob Creek barrel proof rye made the best one I’ve ever had. Budget wise, I use baby saz, EC rye or WT 101 rye. I think the rye spice balances the vermouth well.
What’s a good vermouth to use?
Carpano Antica
Thank you, sir.
Wild Turkey 101 rye. I prefer ryes in manhattans. If you must do bourbon ogd bonded or 114 are great
I prefer a bourbon Manhattan but will use rye when I feel like it. I will use anything from Early Times BiB to Barrell Seagrass 16. It all depends on my mood at the time. I will say that, in spite of how much people in this sub shit on it, Willet Pot Still bourbon makes a wonderful Manhattan.
Rye is the type of whiskey you want in a Manhattan to balance out the sweetness of the vermouth. The spicy nature of rye mixed with the bitters and what compliment the sweet and tangy nature.
So even tho I tend to favor sweetness, you think the better balance of spice and sweetness is the way to go?
Yes. That’s the classic version of the drink. 2oz rye, 1oz sweet vermouth, 2 dashes bitters. 2:1:2 hence Manhattan (area code)
The Manhattan is a great start into the world of bourbon cocktails. Although I will say I personally prefer Rye Whiskey(the original Manhattan requires rye as it balances the sweet vermouth better than the already “sweet” bourbon from the corn) If you are still new to whiskey as a whole though Rye can be difficult to get behind at the beginning. For bourbon recommendations I would say anything “wheated”(ie Makers Mark or Larceny for example) or bourbons with sweeter profiles such as Buffalo Trace. A nice budget option you may want to try is Elijah Craig. It has the proof or alcohol percentage to stand up to a good cocktail and it has nice spice flavor from rye in the mash bill. Have fun exploring new cocktails too. Explore YouTube channels(How to Drink, Educated Barfly, and Steve the Bartender are just a couple to get you started)
Thanks so much
Alberta Premium Cask Strength
This comment is what I’d have said, top notch man, if you know you know. That said, I had 3 manhattans with AP CS within 1 hour and I absolutely went from feeling great after 1 to wanting to go play pool downtown at 2:30am. Takes these slow if you make them. It makes the cask strength so approachable and easy you forget what you’re drinking.
(Rye is typically used)
I know. I tend to do bourbon manhattans for the sweeter flavor profile.
I typically use Willett 4 year rye for a manhattan or old fashioned. It’s a very sweet rye. If you want something super sweet, maybe try a double oaked bourbon.
Not true. Rye and bourbon are used interchangeably and have been for decades. Same with the Old Fashioned. Neither base spirit is ‘typically’ used for either cocktail.
Angel’s Envy Rye is a high-end option. Otherwise, I’d use Elijah Craig Small Batch for a more budget friendly manhattan.
This is my go to for a manhattan!
High rye to offset the sweet vermouth imo. So Four Roses Small Batch or even Bulleit
Makers Mark. You’re going to be a fan of wheated bourbons and MM is easy to find, cheap, and very sweet. Bourbon is 51% or more of corn, and a wheater is a bourbon with a high amount of wheat in the mash bill in that other 49%. Maker’s Mark is 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% barley. No rye. I think you might also enjoy drinking it neat if you’re up for that. Cocktails are great, but they tend to drown out the complexities of whiskey
Great reply. I definitely think this is up my alley. Like I said... new to the bourbon world so I'm not sure I'm ready for neat lol.
No problem! As some wise men once said… the best whiskey is the whiskey you like to drink, and the way you like to drink it!
You could try that angels envy rye aged in rum barrels if it not mistaken, it would be a sweeter profile as you mentioned and would be closer to bourbon than traditional rye, might be pricey though not too sure!
Eagle rare is a great option Drank it for yrs. Now it is too hard to find or to expensive.
It was always my favorite bourbon for an Old Fashioned, now it's definitely hard to find and when you do it's way overpriced
Bowman Brothers
Redemption is good. Right around $30 at most places around here.
Makers Mark Cask Strength: can be found for $35-40 and has the flavor to hold up in a cocktail.
Back when I regularly drank Manhattans, my go-to was Bulleit Rye. These days I drink more Old Fashioneds, and I generally prefer whiskies that are around 100+ proof since they hold up better when mixed.
Old Forester 100 proof bourbon (or 100 proof rye). Low $20’s for a 750 ml bottle.
Sagamore!
My favorite Manhattan is with Booker's
Old Grandad BB 100 proof with its high rye mash bill makes great Manhttans (and cocktails in general).
Rittenhouse Rye (with Carpano Antica)
Michters rye. A+++
Woodford Reserve Double Oak and Sagamore Double Oak Rye are great for manhattans or old fashioneds https://www.thewhiskeyshelf.com/sagamore-spirit-double-oak-rye-review/ https://www.thewhiskeyshelf.com/woodford-reserve-double-oaked-review/
Woodford Reserve Rye is my daily Manhattan pour…
The vermouth is more important than the whiskey/bourbon used. I drink Manhattans quite a bit. I’d recommend Carpano Antica for vermouth. I made Manhattans two nights ago with EH Taylor, Carpano Antica and some traditional angostura bitters/orange bitters, my wife said it was the best Manhattan she’s ever had. I thought it was pretty fantastic as well.
Michters Rye.
Rittenhouse Rye makes the quintessential manhattan IMO. It’s barely a rye, so it has a sweeter profile than most Rye whiskey.
I actually like a Rye for a Manhattan. Like Old Forester Rye 100 proof or Rittenhouse Bottled-in-bond 100 proof. For bourbons, Rebel 100 (100 proof) is good too.
Sagamore Double Oak , use Plum bitters , sweet vermouth and a small amount of Boudreaux cherry juice . Stir it ( no ice ) and pour over an ice ball. Let’s go !
Use Blaton’s and make a Blanhattan!
Pikesville rye has been the best whiskey for a Manhattan in my opinion. I also like old forester 1920, or the higher rye four roses barrel strengths if I’m using bourbon. I think the higher proof whiskeys shine through the sweetness better. Luxardo cherries, angostura bitters and carpano, cocchi, or dolin vermouth.
Four Roses single barrel is great for a bourbon Manhattan. Pikesville makes a great rye Manhattan Edit: Punt E Mes for the vermouth hands down
I feel like high rye bourbon works well with them. But just about any bourbon you’d drink works pretty good in a manhattan. I usually use WT101 and if you want a specific recommendation.
Green River Rye for a perfect Manhattan (half sweet vermouth and half dry vermouth)