Brandy Manhattan Recipe
Written by Enjoy winter with this easy Brandy Manhattan recipe! You can make it with brandy, sweet vermouth, and a hint of bitters - a perfect cocktail to warm you up.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 187
Ingredients
- 2 oz Brandy or Cognac
- 1 oz sweet Vermouth
- 2 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters
- Ice cubes
- Orange zest twist and maraschino cherry - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Cocktail Glass (Martini or coupe style)
- Measuring Jigger
- Stirring Glass
- Cocktail Strainer
- Stirrer or Bar Spoon
Instructions
- Prep Glass: Fill your cocktail glass with ice. Set it aside.
- Add Bitters: Pour 2 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters into the stirring glass.
- Add Vermouth: Measure and pour 1 oz sweet Vermouth into the stirring glass as well.
- Add Brandy: Add 2 oz Brandy or Cognac.
- Add Ice and Stir: Fill the stirring glass with ice. Using a bar spoon or a long stirrer, stir well (for about 15-20 seconds). Give it a taste and stir a bit more if you feel like more dilution is necessary.
- Strain: Take your Martini glass or cocktail coupe and discard the ice. Using the cocktail strainer, strain the mixture into the chilled glass.
- Garnish: Express an orange twist on top of the drink and discard it. Drop a maraschino cherry into the glass for garnish and serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Brandy: If you don't have brandy, bourbon is a great alternative to give the cocktail a slightly different flavor profile. Rye whiskey can also work in a pinch.
- Sweet Vermouth: Dry vermouth can be used as a substitute for a less sweet cocktail. Trying with a sherry wine is another alternative.
- Angostura Bitters: If you're out of Angostura bitters, orange bitters can be used instead. They'll add a different flavor but still complement the other ingredients nicely.
Making a Pitcher of Brandy Manhattan:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of brandy, 8 oz of sweet vermouth, and 16 dashes of Angostura bitters.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the brandy, sweet vermouth, and bitters with ice. Stir well.
- Serve: Pour the mixture into individual chilled cocktail glasses, garnish with a cherry, and serve immediately.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Brandy Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic brandy substitute; these are available in most supermarkets and do an excellent job of mimicking the flavor of brandy.
- Vermouth Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic vermouth substitute or make a simple syrup infused with herbs and spices to mimic the flavor.
- Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
Making it Vegan:
- Cherry Garnish: Ensure that the cherry used for garnish is not maraschino cherries, as they are often colored with cochineal (a non-vegan dye). Opt for fresh cherries or ensure that your maraschino cherries are vegan-friendly.