Classic Manhattan co*cktail Recipe (2024)

With a rich history and the perfect combination of ingredients, the Classic Manhattan co*cktail is as perfect today as it was in years past.

I was sent a couple of gorgeous glasses from my cousin who had split up items from my Aunt Eddie and Aunt Patsy’s estate. Sadly one of them was broken in transit so of course I wanted it more than ever. I had the urge to make a Classic Manhattan co*cktail Recipe and knew I needed a champagne coupe to represent how it was classically made.

The perfect opportunity was at hand to feature this storied co*cktail during a ‘Mad Men’ party a group of bloggers decided to throw to commemorate the final season of the television show that so many are hooked on. I wanted to make a traditional co*cktail of the era and I wanted it in the right glass, doggone it! Nothing else would do for serving this Classic Manhattan!

I searched high and low; I went online and found some by Kate Spade, she of the overpriced designer category, and others by Waterford, still overpriced but a name that I would more proudly attribute to my stemware. I finally found the perfect reasonably priced glasses by Libbey (remember, I just wanted them for a couple of photos) but I was not interested in an entire case. Drat!!

I was definitely a woman on a mission so I called YaYa’s in the Denver Tech Center, my favorite restaurant, hoping they had some on their shelves that I could borrow. Turns out the manager did one better! When I talked to Scott, he said they didn’t have any in the restaurant but he thought he had some at home packed away.

Scott offered to check and let me know. The following morning his email was like a gift, he had found his cache and would drop off a package at YaYa’s for me to pickup. Tell me, how many restaurant managers will do that for you? YaYa’s will always fix mussels the way I like them no matter what the current menu offering is and I love them for that but this was over and beyond.

Many thanks Scott. What? I can keep the glasses too? All FOUR of them? I already thought you the best and now my readers know why…I LOVE these glasses!

This Classic Manhattan co*cktail is an elegant co*cktail with a rich history; some of it fabricated to lend more glory to its name but all leading to it originating in Manhattan, one of the five Burroughs of New York City. By all accounts it originated in the later part of the 19th century and has seen a resurgence often attributed to the popularity of ‘Mad Men‘ – the television show chronicles the lives and social mores of the 1960′s in America.

I’ll be honest. I didn’t expect to be a fan. Let’s just say that my parents both enjoyed a Manhattan. They were a part of that 60′s generation that drank too much and partied too hard; there were affairs and a divorce and in a real soap opera twist; a re-marriage. By them. To each other.

Watching that play out on the small screen hit a bit too close to home so I kept my distance from the show for the first couple of years until a friend insisted I do a marathon with her and doggone it; I was hooked. Truth is I had also kept my distance from a Manhattan all these many years for many of the same reasons and that was another error in judgement on my part.

This is no lightweight drink. Recognizing that my taste in wine has segued from Boone’s Farm to a nice Cabernet over the years, I’m quite certain that if someone had introduced me to this co*cktail those many years ago; it would have been received less than favorably. This is booze, pure and simple.

Despite some controversy over where it began, one area without controversy is the continued popularity of the drink. It is still considered one of the finest co*cktails ever conceived and on every bar’s list of best co*cktails.

Purists (who are these people anyhow?!!) presume that the only way to create a Manhattan is with Rye Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth and Bitters but there are those who cry sacrilege if not using Dry Vermouth. Most concede that Rye Whiskey is the liquor of choice and I love Templeton Rye but bartender choices run the gamut from Bourbon to Rye to Canadian Whiskey.

For me it has to be Rye but I’m more forgiving with the Vermouth depending on tastes, personally preferring Sweet Vermouth. Bitters are seeing a huge boon in popularity right now and the choices are endless but this is a Manhattan and Angostura bitters are a must. Sometimes something is so good that you simply don’t mess with that success!

When I originally posted about this Classic Manhattan co*cktail; it was in conjunction with a bunch of blogging friends who were verklempt over the ending of the Mad Men television series. I had originally created a post with both a co*cktail and an appetizer; never again. Hard to find one if the focus is on the other; so here’s the delicious Mushroom and Walnut Pate recipe!

While this reboot had me clean up some of the focus on that event from a couple of years ago; I would be remiss to remove these recipes…a great collection of food and drink from that era.

co*cktails

• Gin Rickey from Bakeaholic Mama
• Whiskey Sour from Pass the Sushi
• Old Fashioned from Poet in the Pantry
• Mad Men Manhattan from Creative Culinary
• Pink French 75 from Kelly Bakes
• Sazerac co*cktail from Jelly Toast Blog
• Classic Negroni from The Messy Baker
• Gimlet from Yankee Kitchen Ninja

Appetizers

• Vegan French Onion Dip from The Viet Vegan
• Pimento Cheese & Crackers from The Noshery
• Sidecar or Crab Rangoon from Cooking with Jax
• Fried Green Olives Stuffed with Blue Cheese from Simply Healthy Family
• Cheesy Asparagus Spirals from Comfortably Domestic
• Easy co*cktail meatballs The Realistic Nutritionist
• Crab Rangoon from Cooking With Jax

Desserts

• JELL-O Crown Jewel Dessert Cake from The Apron Archives
• Pineapple Upside Down Cake from I am a Honeybee

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