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The Manhattan cocktail is one of the most famous cocktails in the world. It is believed that this simple but flavorful cocktail was created in New York between the 1860’s and 1870’s. As a “modern cocktail,” the introduction of sweet vermouth turned the Old Fashioned into something entirely new. Typically made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters and a cherry garnish, the Manhattan is so popular that a wide number of riffs have been created in its honor.

If you aren’t familiar with the term “riff,” it refers to the addition, substitution or adjustment of ingredients or amounts in a cocktail in order to create something new. Each Monday in the month of February, we’re offering a favorite Manhattan variation at our Burlington Tasting Room. We’re also sharing recipes for a variety of these recipes with you here, so you can mix things up during cocktail hour at home.

Manhattan Riff Cocktail Recipes:

BROOKLYN
Ingredients:
-2 oz. of Revolution Rye
-1 oz. of Dolin Dry Vermouth
-1/2 oz. of Bigallet China China
-1/4 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice, and stir for about 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

TORONTO
Ingredients:
-2 oz. of Burnt Rock Bourbon
-1/4 oz. of Fernet Branca
-1/4 oz. of  simple syrup
-2 dashes of Angostura bitters

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice, and stir for about 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Express an orange peel over the glass, then add as a garnish.

SPANISH MANHATTAN
Ingredients:
-1 oz. of PX Rum
-1 oz. of Carpano Antica
-1/2 oz. of Nocino Liqueur
-1/2 oz. of Fino Sherry
-5 dashes orange bitters

Directions:
To make, combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 30 seconds, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. Express an orange peel over the top, then rub around the rim of the glass and discard.

VEIUX CARRE
Ingredients:
-1 oz. of Revolution Rye
-3/4 oz. of Cognac
-3/4 oz. of Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
-1/4 oz. of Benedictine
-2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
-2 dashes of Peychauds Bitters

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir will for 30 seconds, then strain and serve up in a coupe glass. Add a Luxardo cherry for garnish.

LA LOUISIANE
Ingredients:
-1 oz. of Revolution Rye or Straight Bourbon
-1 oz. of Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
-1 oz. of Benedictine
-3 dashes Peychauds Bitters
-scant barspoon of Absinthe

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 15-30 seconds, then strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

PALMETTO
Ingredients:
-1.5 oz. of PX Rum
-1/2 oz. of Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
-1/2 oz. of Amaro Averna
-1/2 oz. of Cocchi di Torino

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir briefly, then strain contents into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

To make your own cocktail riff, all you need to do is swap one ingredient for a similar substitute, or experiment with changing the amounts of each ingredient. For example, you can substitute Straight Bourbon for Burnt Rock Bourbon, Revolution Rye or even a rum. Likewise, if a recipe calls for 2 ounces of whiskey and 1 ounce of sweet vermouth, you can create a variation by adjusting the ounces of each ingredient. The flavor can also change just by experimenting with different bitters. 

At our Burlington Tasting Room, we often experiment with spirits, liqueurs, bitters and syrups to create new cocktails. Of course, we aren’t the only ones coming up with new recipes, so we also often feature popular riffs like the Brooklyn and Vieux Carre above. Do you have a favorite Manhattan recipe? If you’ve come up with a unique Manhattan riff of your own, we’d love to hear it. Share your creation and tag us on social! Cheers!