All about the cherry, Manhattan
Oh hi, whiskey whiskey, makes me frisky. Jk, it actually makes me sleepy. But that’s not always a bad thing. There is something about a glass of whiskey after a long day that is so relaxing. In my opinion all you need is one solid whiskey drink, never two, and most definitely never three.
My favorite whiskey sipper is the Manhattan. There is a secret to a great Manhattan, the vermouth and the cherry. Both need to be high quality. It makes all the difference in the world. If you go to a restaurant that has those bright red cocktail cherries (that are actually bleached white then dyed red) do not, I repeat, do not order an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan.
As a kid, growing up in a restaurant, those bright little cherries were my guilty pleasure. I used to throw those things in my mouth like popcorn until one day a server told me they were made of paper and bleach (not sure how true that is) but I haven’t touched one since.
A high quality fresh vermouth is also essential. If you order a Manhattan and the bartender grabs the vermouth from the well, cancel your classic cocktail and order a vodka soda instead. Vermouth should always be refrigerated and sealed air tight.
Below is my favorite vermouth and favorite cherries. As far as the whiskey goes, any american bourbon will do for a classic Manhattan. One last little secret, never shaken, always stirred for this one.
Vermouth- Pio Cesare Vermouth di Torino, made in Italy by the original family. It’s made with over 25 botanicals, sweetened with burnt sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and candied orange. It’s a great aperitif, sipped on by itself as well.
Cherries- Amerena Fabbri, grown in Italy and super dark and rich. Easy to find on amazon. If you can’t find these you can opt for the Luxardo Maraschino Cherries instead, equally delicious and acceptable.
All about the cherry, Manhattan Recipe
Basil Hayden Bourbon, Pio Cesare Vermouth, Angostura Bitters, Amarena Cherries, Orange
2 oz. bourbon
1 oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 Amarena cherry plus some of its syrup
1 orange peel
Add first three ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, stir with a bar spoon about 20-25 times. Strain over a big rock, stir in your cherry with a little of the syrup, rub your orange slice around the rim and throw it into the glass. Sip slowly and enjoy!