This cherry Manhattan is a traditional Manhattan recipe with a twist! Pick your rye, whiskey or bourbon and forget Luxardo cherries, try Trader Joe’s Amarena cherries! The perfect cocktail for Father’s Day!
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Why This Recipe Works
- You can pick whatever rye, bourbon, whiskey or mix you want! YOU ARE THE BOSS!
- You don’t have to use vermouth if you don’t have it.
- The most amazing cherries you have ever had. FULL STOP!
What are the best cherries for a Manhattan cocktail?
Ok, first we need to talk maraschino cherries from the grocery store. I have to be honest, not my favorite. Food coloring?
Luxardo cherries are a high end cocktail cherry which I happen to LOVE but they are not cheap my friends. Luxardo maraschino cherries are made from candied sour marasca cherries and steeped in a cherry sugar syrup
Meet, the Amarena Cherry! Truth be told, I can’t afford over $20.00 for bottle of fancy cherries. However, I am so lucky as to live near a Trader Joe’s! Around the holidays, you can find Trader Joe’s Amarena Cherries which I affectionately like to refer to as the poor man’s Luxardo cherries (only arguably even better tasting).
If you don’t live near a Trader Joes, a few other amazing cherry options are: Fabbri Amarena Cherries and Peninsula Premium Cocktail Cherries.
Best whiskey for a Manhattan
Rye is the traditional whiskey in a Manhattan. However, you can use bourbon or Canadian whiskey as well. Typically, vermouth is use to balance those flavors. However, since we like throwing caution to the wind, I am just going to say it! I used Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whiskey and I love it with this cherry Manhattan cocktail. Maker’s Mark is sweet and balanced with caramel, vanilla, woody oak and fruit essence.
What is a traditional Manhattan cocktail?
A traditional Manhattan is typically a mix of whiskey, sweet vermouth, angostura bitters, orange peel and maraschino cherries. However, unless you are a super amazing cocktail mixologist, I know not everyone keeps sweet vermouth on hand. Also, those red maraschino cherries that you see in supermarkets? Maybe for a Shirley temple (sorry kids)! But not for a sophisticated adult cocktail. This recipe for a cherry Manhattan is about to turn your cocktail world in the right direction.
Ice molds and whiskey glass sets
I am a sucker for a cute cocktail glass, and in this case, a cocktail ice mold! I love a round ice mold, a square ice mold or any creative ice mold like a skull!
You can serve your cherry Manhattan in traditional whiskey glasses or these sophisticated snifters!
Looking for other delicious cocktail ideas?
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Cherry Manhattan
Ingredients
- 2 oz rye, whiskey or bourbon (Maker’s Mark)
- 6 drop/dash cherry bitters
- 1-2 luxardo cherries or amarena cherries
- 1/2 tsp+ Extra cherry juice (optional)
Instructions
- Mix rye, whiskey or bourbon (Maker’s Mark) with cherry bitters.
- Add 1-2 cherries.
- Pour over ice mold or drink straight (no ice).
- If you like more sweet, you can add ½ tsp+ cherry juice.
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