How to Make a Manhattan

The Manhattan is what the Old Fashioned grew up into: the same spirit-forward spine, but built on vermouth instead of sugar. Rye, sweet vermouth, bitters, stirred and served up. It's the most elegant three-ingredient drink you can make.

The spec

• 2 oz rye whiskey
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Brandied cherry, to finish

How to make it

Combine everything in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 30 seconds until cold and properly diluted, then strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a good brandied cherry — not the neon kind.

Rye over bourbon

Rye is the classic choice for a reason: its dry, peppery edge cuts through the sweet vermouth and keeps the drink from turning cloying. Bourbon works if that's what you have, but you'll want to pull the vermouth back a touch.

Keep your vermouth alive

Sweet vermouth is wine, and it oxidizes. Store the open bottle in the refrigerator and replace it every couple of months. Half of all disappointing Manhattans are just tired vermouth.

The glass

A Manhattan is stirred and served up, so it begins in a mixing glass and lands in a chilled coupe.

Put the build on the wall with the Manhattan spec print, and if you're still stocking shelves, start with our guide to building a home bar.