Manhattan
Recipe
Start by chilling your Nick and Noras glass as we want the cocktail to remain delightfully crisp and cold throughout your sipping journey. Take your mixing glass and add 60ml of your preferred rye whiskey. Then, add 30ml of sweet vermouth, an Italian classic that imparts a wonderful, subtle sweetness. Next, a dash or two of Angostura bitters, the cherry on top, so to speak, to give the cocktail its characteristic depth and complexity. Fill the mixing glass with the finest ice you can muster and stir gently. Stir for around 30 seconds, just enough to chill and dilute the mix slightly but not too much that you drown the beauty of the whiskey and vermouth. Strain the liquid gold into your chilled Nick and Noras, and garnish with a cherry, a nod to the Manhattan's origins.
The history
Now, let us embark on a journey through time to where the Manhattan first began. Our tale takes us back to the mid-19th century, to the grand Manhattan Club in New York City. It is whispered in hushed tones that the Manhattan was first concocted for a banquet hosted by Jennie Jerome in honour of presidential candidate Samuel J. Tilden. Jerome, as you may know, was the mother of none other than Winston Churchill, a gentleman renowned for his appreciation of quality spirits.
It's fascinating to consider how the Manhattan has traversed through time, maintaining its prominence and elegance in the ever-evolving world of mixology. Yet it is not just the classic recipe that has endured. The preferred vessel for such a sophisticated cocktail, the Nick and Noras glass, has also retained its popularity. These glasses, named after the martini-loving main characters in the 1934 detective novel 'The Thin Man', have become synonymous with class, sophistication, and a love for the finer things in life. With their delicate stem and rounded bowl, they are perfect for maintaining the chill of your cocktail and allowing the aroma to gently waft towards your senses, enhancing the overall experience of sipping a Manhattan.
The 1806 way
One intriguing tidbit about the Manhattan is the lively debate that surrounds its preparation. Should it be stirred or shaken? Purists would argue for stirring to maintain the clarity and integrity of the spirit, while others may argue for shaking to properly mix the ingredients and introduce a hint of dilution. Here at 1806, we align with the purists, gently stirring our Manhattan to ensure it is as smooth and as refined as the patrons who grace our establishment.
As you can see, the Manhattan is not merely a cocktail; it is a voyage through history, a testament to the craft of cocktail making, and a truly delightful experience for the senses. From the quality of the ingredients to the vessel in which it is served, every aspect has been carefully considered, creating a cocktail that continues to captivate and charm even the most discerning of cocktail enthusiasts.