Manhattan Cocktail

The stiff, smooth union of whiskey and vermouth is a classic of the cocktail canon.

The Red Hook

Here's a relative of the Manhattan that dates to within the past five years, a drink created by New York bartender Enzo Errico that utilizes its ancestor's rye whiskey base, matches it with the bitter Italian vermouth Punt e Mes, and fills in the flavor with a hearty dose of funky maraschino liqueur. Named for a once rough-and-tumble Brooklyn neighborhood that's since changed with the times, the Red Hook is one of the more memorable variations of the Manhattan.

Manhattan Cocktails (for a Crowd)

Batch up a bottle of Manhattans for your next party!

Man About Town

This cocktail from Gramercy Tavern in NYC is a take on a Boulevardier (which is like a Negroni, but with bourbon instead of gin). Here, however, spicy rye is the star, complemented by the bittersweet Sicilian amaro, Cynar.

The Slope

Similar in approach to the Red Hook, another Brooklyn-themed Manhattan variation, the Slope--named for the borough's Park Slope neighborhood--utilizes an extra-bitter style of vermouth called Punt e Mes, then tempers the bitterness with the stone-fruit sweetness of apricot liqueur. The result is potent, balanced and memorable; an excellent cocktail for a mid-autumn evening.

Toronto Cocktail

The Toronto Cocktail pairs the Italian bitter with the crispness of rye whiskey and a little sugar.

The Bronx

Let's be honest: The Bronx is unlikely to be anyone's favorite drink. But while it's not exactly bottled excitement, The Bronx is actually pretty good, and surprisingly refreshing. Be sure to use fresh-squeezed orange juice (and if you add a dash or two of Angostura bitters, you've got a somewhat tastier Income Tax Cocktail on your hands), and approach it with an open mind.

New York Sour

This simple twist on the whiskey sour made the rounds for several decades during the late 19th century under an assortment of names. A base of American whiskey (rye is the desired variety here) is fleshed out with a little fresh lemon juice and smoothed over with a touch of sugar; the crowning touch comes with a float of dry red wine.

Boulevardier

Essentially a Negroni with whiskey swapped in for gin, this classic is a beautiful cocktail in its own right.

Remember the Maine

A rye Manhattan with cherry liqueur, a trace of absinthe, and a great backstory.