#Manhattan frink how to

2 oz whiskey (bourbon or rye is traditionally used).Here’s a classic Old Fashioned cocktail recipe. If you choose to add your sugar via muddling the bitters and sugar, you’re adding even less. It’s booze forward, with only a small amount of liquid added via syrup. You may be asking yourself, is a Manhattan sweeter than an Old Fashioned? On the whole, an Old Fashioned will taste sweeter than a Manhattan and it all has to do with ratios of spirit to sweet element.Īn Old Fashioned uses a ratio (depending on preferences) of 2 oz bourbon to 1/2 oz simple syrup (or 1/4 rich simple syrup) and a few dashes of bitters. How are the Cocktail Recipes Different for Manhattan vs Old Fashioned While some people do order their Manhattans on the rocks, typically a Manhattan will be served in a chilled up glass, either a coupe glass or a martini glass. Old Fashioneds are always served on the rocks, although whether that’s many cubes or one large-format ice cube varies from place to place and by preference. Are Manhattans Served Differently from Old Fashioneds? Classic Bourbon Manhattan Cocktail In this case of Manhattan vs Old Fashioned, the Old Fashioned wins for sheer history of it since we know it was around for many years before Jerry Thomas wrote it down. In this case, the new hot thing was vermouth, and the earliest Manhattans were an even ratio between whiskey and vermouth. Bartenders always want to try something new. The Manhattan came about later – in the mid-1870s as vermouth was gaining popularity in the states. It consisted of whiskey, sugar (gum syrup), bitters, and ice. Its earliest iterations were known as the Whiskey Cocktail and the cocktail was recorded first in 1862 in Jerry Thomas’ Bartenders Guide. The Old Fashioned is the original cocktail, some say. Here are the differences: Which Came First, the Manhattan or the Old Fashioned? A Perfect Old Fashioned Cocktail

#Manhattan frink how to

I have two articles: How to Make the Perfect Old Fashioned and How to Make a Classic Manhattan.Īs always, the devil is in the details. If you’d like a much more in-depth article about each. So really, the main difference is in the sweetening element, the ratios used, and how it’s typically served. In terms of garnish, you’ll see either orange peels, cherries, or a combination of the two on both of the cocktails. Now that I think about it, no wonder people get confused about the difference between the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned. Manhattans and Old Fashioneds Often Have the Same Garnish Old Fashioned Cocktail Learn how to easily batch a Manhattan or Old Fashioned for a Party with my no-math, make ahead method. Because both contain spirits, sugar, and bitters, there’s no need to shake the cocktail to integrate the elements. You’ll find both of the cocktails will be stirred, not shaken.

Stir or Shake: Manhattan vs Old Fashioned Read my article A Whiskey Lover’s Guide to Vermouth for all the details you need to know about vermouth as a whiskey fiend.

Vermouth is an aromatized fortified wine that has a bit of spirit added to it and some botanicals to round out the flavors of the wine. For the Old Fashioned, it’s a simple syrup or a sugar cube. Speaking of sweet elements, in addition, each of the cocktails has a sweet element. Mixologists will often change out the bitters they are using depending on the flavors of the whiskey and the sweet elements. Again, there are traditional bitters that are used (Angostura), but I personally prefer to add bitters that bring out flavors and aromas that aren’t as present at first sip. You already know how I will answer it – build the cocktail to your own palate.īoth Old Fashioneds and Manhattans can be made with either bourbon or rye (or any whiskey, really, even historically there’s some debate as to what whiskey was used for the earliest versions).Įach cocktail also requires bitters to balance out flavors. Both have whiskey as their base ingredient, and for both the preferred base spirit is a matter of contention between enthusiasts and experts. Similarities between the Old Fashioned and the Manhattanįirst, the similarities. Cliff Notes: Manhattan vs Old Fashionedīut let’s get into the details, because that’s far more interesting. If you’d rather have the cliff notes, here’s a table for you, otherwise, for the details on why these elements matter, read on below. Both are storied cocktails that keep whiskey front and center in the cocktails – whether that’s rye or bourbon. To someone new to the whiskey or cocktail space, Manhattan vs Old Fashioned seems mysterious, because there really are a lot of commonalities between them.

The two classic whiskey cocktails seem widely different to me, but I’ve tasted hundreds of them. I’m often asked the difference between a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned.