Glass: Martini or Coupe

Equipment: Shaker,Strainer, Bar Spoon

Ingredients

• 3 oz Old Grand Dad Bonded 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• 1 ½ oz Carpano Antica Formula 1786 Sweet Vermouth
• Dash of Angostura bitters (be careful with amount)
• Luxardo Maraschino Cherries

Directions

• Chill glass by filling with ice and water, rest while preparing cocktail.
• Fill shaker halfway with ice.
• Add bourbon, vermouth and bitters.
• Shake gently, 5 or 6 shakes.
• Dump ice and water from chilled glass.
• Add cherry to glass.
• Strain cocktail into glass.
• Enjoy!

Barkeep Notes

Be careful with the bitters, too many bartenders go heavy on the bitters and spoil the drink. A good Manhattan has a sweet undertone not bitter.

For those who like their drink a bit sweeter, drip a bit of the cherry syrup in along with the cherry or straight into the shaker.

Old Grand Dad Bonded bourbon is my personal preference but feel free to substitute with any high quality bourbon. There is no, IMHO, substitute for the Antica vermouth though, it’s definitely worth it. If there is a better (readily available) maraschino cherry than Luxardo, I am not aware of it.

Lastly, some would say the Manhattan should be stirred not shaken but I find a gentle shaking does not chip the ice very much and mixes the drink better. Feel free to stir instead though.