Cocktail Atlas

Midnight Manhattan

A mysterious take on the Manhattan with a hint of cherry.

Cocktail Atlas · Updated

Spirit
Rye Whiskey
Glass
Coupe glass
Method
Stirred
Difficulty
Intermediate

Riff on: Manhattan

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An amber Manhattan in a coupe with skewered dark cherries, among green leaves on a wooden table

Midnight Manhattan

Ingredients

Ingredients for Midnight Manhattan. Tick each one as you add it.
AddedMeasureIngredient
2 oz
1 oz
2 dashes
1 tsp

Steps

  1. Stir all ingredients with ice until well chilled.
  2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
  3. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

Garnish Brandied cherry

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Batch it For a party of 4–20

Makes 8 drinks, about 30½ oz · 910 ml before ice.

Midnight Manhattan batch
AmountIngredient
16 oz · 480 mlRye Whiskey
8 oz · 240 mlSweet Vermouth
16 dashesAngostura Bitters
1⅓ oz · 40 mlBlack Cherry Syrup
5 oz · 150 mlCold water, for dilution (approx.)

The water stands in for the melt from stirring: about 20% for a stirred drink. It is an approximation, so taste and adjust. Chill the batch at least 2 hours and pour over fresh ice.

Fits a 1 liter bottle or carafe.

Made it?

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Why it works

Rye and sweet vermouth form the base, with a little more vermouth than the classic for a softer drink. A teaspoon of black cherry syrup deepens the fruit notes the vermouth already has, and Angostura keeps it from turning sweet. Stirring and serving up keeps it silky; the brandied cherry garnish echoes the syrup.

Substitutions

  • No black cherry syrup? Use a bar spoon of the syrup from a jar of good cocktail cherries.
  • Bourbon makes it rounder.
  • Orange bitters give a brighter finish.

Variations

Questions

Is a teaspoon of syrup enough to taste?
Yes. In a spirit-forward drink, a small amount adds noticeable fruit without making it sweet.
Should it be stirred?
Yes. All the ingredients are spirits, fortified wine or syrup, so stirring keeps it clear.

Making it: Midnight Manhattan

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