Brandy Manhattan

The Brandy Manhattan is a refined version of the classic cocktail recipe based on brandy or cognac! It’s even better than the original.

Looking for a sophisticated version of Manhattan? try it Manhattan cognac! If you have a bottle of cognac or brandy, this is the drink for you. Brandy is sweeter than whiskey, with fruity, floral and citrus notes. Brandy is therefore, in our opinion, a sweeter, more complex and even more exciting Manhattan cocktail. Here’s how to do it and some more ideas on Manhattan variations.

What’s in a Brandy Manhattan?

The Manhattan is a classic whiskey, vermouth, and bitters cocktail invented in the 1870s. It has proven itself and is still one of the most popular cocktails today! The story goes that the drink was invented in a club called The Manhattan Club in New York. The official definition of this classic cocktail on the International Bartender Association’s official IBA cocktail list includes Rye Whiskey. This Brandy Manhattan recipe simply substitutes brandy for the rye. The ingredients you need are:

• brandy or cognac
• Sweet red vermouth
• Angostura Bitters
• Luxardo cherry for garnish

Best brandy for a Manhattan

You can use most types of brandy for Brandy Manhattan, but there are some clear precursors. Here are the types of brandy to use, in order of preference:

• cognac: The best choice ! Cognac is a French brandy with a spicy, fruity and bitter taste, with hints of vanilla and oak.
• Armagnac: This full-bodied French brandy works too; it has notes of dark caramel, chocolate and burnt orange
• American cognac: Any brandy made in the United States will also work.
• Calvados: This apple or pear brandy made in France works too; The finer flavor notes result in a unique drink
• Jerez brandySpanish brandy can also work: the flavor is dry and sweet, with hints of caramel, almond, and vanilla.

What not to use? Avoid pisco, a Peruvian brandy made from fermented grapes with an unconventional, earthy flavor. Save it for a pisco sour.

All about vermouth

The other component of a Brandy Manhattan recipe? The sweet vermouth! What is vermouth? It is a fortified wine, meaning alcohol (usually brandy) has been added to the wine. There are two main types of vermouth: sweet (usually red) and dry (usually white).

• sweet vermouth is subtly sweet and spicy. It is used in many classic cocktails: the most famous are the Manhattan and the Negroni.
• Dry white vermouth is very dry, with a bitter finish. It is used in martinis such as the Classic Martini or the Dirty Martini.

Stock advice: Be sure to keep the vermouth in the fridge! It stays good for up to 3 months.

Garnish with a Luxardo cherry

The classic Manhattan garnish isn’t just any cocktail cherry: it’s a Luxardo cherry. This cherry variety is so deep red that it almost looks black. It has a completely different taste than the classic cocktail cherry: it is complex, fruity and nutty, almost like amaretto. Put this on top of a Manhattan Brandy and it makes the drink! You can find Luxardo cherries online or at your local liquor store.

How to make a Manhattan Brandy

This Brandy Manhattan recipe is super easy to make: you don’t even need a shaker! It’s a classic “stirred” cocktail, meaning it’s stirred in a cocktail glass. Here’s what to do:

• Mix the brandy, vermouth and bitters in a cocktail glass. Using a shaker would dilute the drink too much. Spirit Forward cocktails like Manhattan or Martini use a cocktail glass.
• You do not have ? Use any glass or container to mix the drink, then strain into the serving glass! Or if you want to look like someone who knows their cocktails, grab one cocktail glass.

Manhattan guys

If you are a Manhattan lover, there are many ways to mix this drink! Here are our favorite Manhattan types: