A Manhattan is a cocktail made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Commonly used whiskeys include rye (the traditional choice), Canadian whisky, bourbon, blended whiskey, and Tennessee whiskey. The cocktail is often stirred and strained into a cocktail glass, where it is garnished with a Maraschino cherry with a stem.
A Manhattan can also be served on the rocks in a lowball glass. The whiskey-based Manhattan is one of five cocktails named for one of New York City’s five boroughs, but is perhaps most closely related to the Brooklyn cocktail, a mix utilizing dry vermouth and Maraschino liqueur in place of the Manhattan’s sweet vermouth, as well as Amer Picon in place of the Manhattan’s traditional bitters.
The Manhattan is one of six basic drinks listed in David A. Embury’s classic The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks.