How to Make a Brandy Manhattan

Co-authored by Tom Blake

Last Updated: January 24, 2020 References

If you're a fan of the Manhattan and looking to switch it up a bit, try a brandy Manhattan! By using brandy instead of the traditional whiskey or bourbon, it's a fun take on an already classic drink. Grab your brandy, bitters, and vermouth, then enjoy!

Ingredients

Traditional Brandy Manhattan

2 fl oz (59 mL) of brandy
1 fl oz (30 mL) of sweet vermouth
2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters
Orange twist or Maraschino cherry for garnish

Dry Brandy Manhattan

1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz (44 mL) of brandy
0.2 fl oz (5.9 mL) of dry vermouth

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Making a Traditional Brandy Manhattan

1
Add ice cubes to a martini shaker. No one wants a warm Manhattan, so get some ice to cool yourself on a sunny day.
2
Add 2 fl oz (59 mL) of brandy and 1 fl oz (30 mL) of sweet vermouth. These are the main ingredients that will give you that great flavor.^{[1]
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- Vermouth is fortified wine flavored with herbs and spices. ^{[2]
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- For a "perfect" brandy Manhattan, use ¹⁄₂ fl oz (15 mL) of dry vermouth and ¹⁄₂ fl oz (15 mL) of sweet vermouth instead.
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3
Stir your drink. Avoid shaking the mixture as it will result in a cloudy cocktail.
4
Put 2-3 dashes of bitters into a martini glass. You might want to chill the glass by placing it in the freezer for 3-4 hours. Then, to coat the glass, swirl the bitters around.^{[3]
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5
Strain the shaker into the martini glass. This is your chance to get rid of the ice cubes that could dilute your drink and take away the buzz.
- You can put a mesh strainer over the glass to catch the ice.
6
Add a garnish. No fancy drink is complete without a topping! A maraschino cherry will pair nicely with this drink, but if you're looking for a citrus kick, try an orange twist.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Making a Dry Brandy Manhattan

1
Put some ice in a glass. Fill your glass up about halfway with some ice cubes to create a cool beverage. Alternatively, you could chill the glass in the freezer beforehand so the ice cubes don't dilute your drink if they melt.
2
Add 1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz (44 mL) of brandy and 0.2 fl oz (5.9 mL) of dry vermouth. The less dry vermouth you use, the drier the drink is. This differs from a "perfect" Manhattan which uses equal amounts of dry and sweet vermouth.^{[5]
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- Dry vermouth is more herbaceous and less spicy than sweet vermouth.^{[6]
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3
Stir the drink. It's better to stir than shake the liquid, as shaking it makes for a cloudy cocktail.
- Stirring also gives you a chance to distribute the ice so the drink is evenly chilled throughout.
4
Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass. To keep your cocktail cold, stick a martini glass in the freezer a few hours before you intend to enjoy this cocktail. Then, grab it from the freezer and pour the liquid through a mesh strainer into the glass.
5
Add a garnish. A fruity topping would work, but if you want something salty with a Mediterranean flair, try an olive or 2!^{[7]
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- Savor the olives! They soak up the vermouth, giving them a unique taste.^{[8]
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