Le Manhattan

The Manhattan is a very old cocktail invented on the eponymous island of New York City. Legend has it that it was created during a dinner at the Manhattan Club on December 29, 1874, in honor of Samuel J. Tilden, then a presidential candidate.

This cocktail was reportedly so successful that it quickly became THE fashionable cocktail in the city's bars.

The original Manhattan was a mix of half American Whiskey, half Italian Vermouth with 2 dashes of Angostura bitters.

The current official recipe differs little from the historical recipe. According to the IBA (International Bartenders Association), a Manhattan is a mix of 50ml of Rye Whiskey, 20ml of sweet Vermouth, and 1 dash of Angostura bitters. Everything must be mixed over ice in a mixing glass and not a shaker. Served in a cocktail glass taken from the freezer, it is garnished with a maraschino cherry.

At the Brasserie de Montmirail bar, we serve you a version aged in a new mini oak barrel that you can see on the counter. This aging of at least 6 months brings a slight vanilla taste, has the effect of rounding the spicy side of rye whiskey, and pairs perfectly with the bitterness found in vermouth. We only add Angostura at the time of serving so as not to add acidity to the barrel during the aging period.

Enjoy!