I’m a long-time fan of the Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet, in fact, it was one of the first recipes I posted on Very Obsessed. A reader commented on that post that she loves the co*cktail but also enjoys a Brandy Manhattan when she wants something that’s not so sweet. Fast forward to me researching Brandy Manhattan recipes and here we are.
After much research and tweaking, below is my new favorite Brandy Manhattan recipe.
Jump to my Brandy Manhattan Recipe
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What’s the Difference Between an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan?
Both Old Fashioneds and Manhattans are classic co*cktails with only mild differences between them, but the differences make a huge difference.
First, let’s take the ingredient list. There are only three ingredients to a Brandy Manhattan: brandy, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Aside from a cherry garnish, that’s it. So you can see how this will be an easy co*cktail to make. While old fashioneds don’t contain vermouth, they do have an orange, sugar cubes, and soda.
Second, let’s discuss the taste. A Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet has sweet in the name because it is sweet, and that comes from the sugar cubes and the lemon-lime soda. And while a Brandy Manhattan uses sweet vermouth, it isn’t nearly as sweet. As we discussed, a Manhattan is made of three ingredients, and all of them are alcohol. There is no ‘mixer’ like there is in an Old Fashioned. Some people ask if the Manhattan is a strong drink or a girly drink (I hate that phrase BTW) and it’s kind of all relative. Since it’s only made of booze it is stronger than a lot of drinks, but since it’s brandy-based it’s not as strong as some whiskey or bourbon co*cktails.
Lastly, how are the co*cktails served? The old fashioned is always served in a double old fashioned glass, I mean…it’s in the name, right? A manhattan can either be served in a martini (or my preference, a coupe) glass straight up or in a DOF on the rocks.
Types of Manhattans
This recipe is for a Brandy Manhattan but you can also make it with other alcohol like whiskey, bourbon, and scotch. What I find really important though is knowing the variations of a Manhattan, especially when you are out and ordering one. There is nothing more embarrassing than when a bartender asks you a question and you aren’t sure how to answer it.
When ordering a Manhattan you can order it Classic (which you don’t say classic, you just order the manhattan), Dry, or Perfect. A dry manhattan replaces the sweet vermouth with dry vermouth, which is the typical ingredient in a dry martini. The perfect martini (so don’t let the name confuse you) is half sweet vermouth and half dry vermouth (not that it tastes perfect but maybe it does to you).
Best Brandy for a Manhattan
Since the brandy will be used in making a co*cktail and not served neat, there is no reason to use a very expensive top-shelf brandy. Wisconsinites know that Korbel is the perfect brandy for making an old-fashioned, and it’s perfect for making a manhattan too. If you find yourself in northern California you can even check out the Korbel Brandy Distillery in Sonoma.
- Bar Spoon | Manhattans are stirred, not shaken. You can use any spoon, but this is part of a well-stocked bar. If you are wondering why, shaking can make the co*cktail cloudy, and that’s not aesthetically pleasing.
- Bar Strainer | You’ll need to strain the co*cktail from the ice.
- Jigger | This makes it easy to measure.
- co*cktail Picks | You’ll need these for the cherry garnish.
Brandy Manhattan Recipe
Servings: 1
Ingredients
- 2 Amarena Cherries
- 2 oz Brandy
- 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
- 2 dashes Bitters
- Ice
Directions
- Place ice in a co*cktail pitcher
- Add brandy, vermouth, and bitters and stir until cold
- Pour into a glass, straining ice
- Garnish with two cherries
Other Brandy co*cktails:
Looking for a non-alcoholic version of the Brandy Manhattan? Check out this Manhattan Mocktail recipe!
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Know a brandy lover? Check out this gift guide for ideas that aren’t just another bottle of booze.
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