The Manhattan

The Manhattan

Bold, Timeless, and Warming

Like many classic cocktail recipes, the history of The Manhattan is mired in differing accounts of its origin. Of the many stories, our favorite is the one linked back to the historic Manhattan Club in New York. The legend suggests that the cocktail was created for a party thrown by Lady Jennie Spencer-Churchill (mother of British PM Winston Churchill) for Samuel Tilden. Tilden is famously remembered as the 1876 presidential candidate who won the national popular vote, but lost the electoral college. Some of the details in this story don't quite add up, but we like to imagine many people were cooling the sting of a political defeat with Manhattan cocktails...kinda like we were in 2016.

Origin stories aside, the long-lasting nature of this recipe speaks to just how good the combination of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters truly is. The spicy bold rye is tempered with the gentle mouth feel and sweetness of vermouth, and the whole thing is supported from the additional spice of Angostura bitters. The short & stout nature of this cocktail makes it the perfect after dinner sipper. Oh, and they're incredibly easy to make!

We love making our Manhattans with our Burnside Oregon Oaked Rye Whiskey. At 92 proof, it's the perfect whiskey to cut through most vermouths and gives this classic a more modern and approachable flavor. Also, being a simple three ingredient cocktail means that the quality of each ingredient really matters. Do yourself a favor and opt for a higher quality vermouth like Carpano Antica or Cocchi di Torino.

Here's how to make a Manhattan Cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces rye whiskey

• 1 ounce sweet vermouth

• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters

• 1 thick orange peel

• 1 brandied cherry

Add your bitters, vermouth, and whiskey to a mixing glass. Add a large scoop of ice and stir gently with your bar spoon for 20-30 seconds. Strain contents of mixing glass into a coupe or small cocktail glass. Squeeze the orange peel over the drink to express the orange oil into the cocktail. Finish it all off by dropping a brandied cherry into the bottom of the glass.

For some fun variations, try swapping out the Angostura bitters for any bitters of your choice. For a more pronounced rye whiskey flavor, try making one with Big Bottom Delta Rye. It's also good to know that rye isn't your only choice. While a nice spicy rye whiskey is classic, try making one with an oakey bourbon or even our Cherry Bomb Whiskey!

The Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned

Venerable, Balanced, and Stiff

Ah, the Old Fashioned Cocktail–perhaps one of the most widely known cocktails in the world, and for good reason. The history of this combination of bitters, water, sugar, and spirits dates back to the early 1800s and has since become a classic.

At that time, this concoction was referred to as a "cocktail," and since then, it has persisted as the basic template for all cocktails. The name Old Fashioned emerged about a century ago when bar patrons started ordering their cocktails made the old fashioned way. The name stuck and even became associated with the straight-sided rocks glass the drink was commonly served in.

While you can make an Old Fashioned using any spirit as the base (it's true!), we prefer the traditional interpretation with a Southern-inspired whiskey like our Burnside Goose Hollow RSV Straight Bourbon. A straight bourbon's oakiness paired with spicy bitters like Angostura, a spoonful of 2:1 simple syrup, and a bit of fresh citrus is an unbeatable combination. The water in this recipe comes from the dilution of ice when gently stirred for about 20-30 seconds. 

Once you've mastered the basic Old Fashioned, it's fun to experiment with other variations using different types of bitters, sugars, and even base spirits. For a south-of-the-border twist, try making one with our Azuñia Añejo estate-crafted tequila!

Here’s how to make a great Old Fashioned Cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces bourbon whiskey

• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters

• .25 ounces 2:1 simple syrup

• 1 thick orange peel

Add your bitters, simple syrup, and bourbon to a mixing glass. Add a large scoop of ice and stir gently with your bar spoon for 20-30 seconds. Place a large ice cube in a short straight-sided Old Fashioned glass and strain contents of mixing glass over your large cube. Squeeze the orange peel over the drink to express the orange oil into the cocktail. You can then toss the orange peel or stick it into the glass for extra vibrancy. You've just made a perfect Old Fashioned cocktail!