The upheaval in the bitters market, combined with the desire of a new generation to change everything the old generation loves, means there are now some very interesting alternatives to the Manhattan.
As American as apple pie, the Manhattan is rooted in U.S. whiskey. A traditional cocktail would call for two parts rye whiskey, one part sweet vermouth, and a dash or two of aromatic bitters. The drink then needs to be stirred over ice (the same progressives looking to update the classic might say shaken) and strained into a cocktail glass.
The simplest changes to the Manhattan basically substitute rum for whiskey. The Sevilla Cocktail calls for Bacardi rum and orange peel (in lieu of bitters). A rum Manhattan might also add a touch of maraschino cherry juice or liqueur -- see, it's not just for Rob Roys and Shirley Temples.
After-dinner drinks like port and brandy are viable alternatives to vermouth -- which most non-martini drinkers don't stock in their home bars. The Big Apple Manhattan swaps in Calvados (a mash of cider apples aged in oak barrels) for vermouth -- making for a drink that's easier to swallow than its name. The Midnight Manhattan combines bourbon, port, ice and three spirits-soaked cherries, in what looks like a dark glass of trouble.
I also came across a Virgin Manhattan -- which combines cranberry juice, orange juice, cherry juice, lemon juice and a dash of orange bitters. I'd imagine it tasting something like a slightly fermented Five Alive.
So get out there and experience the Manhattan, one chilled cocktail glass at a time. You might just find yourself saying, "I love New York."
[Image via Flickr: southern foodways alliance]
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It's one of the simplest cocktails to make but it's so vexing to order a manhattan at a bar. I just about had a heart attack when I saw a very well-regarded local bartender shoot soda water into the glass. Due to the Angostura shortage I've had a couple with Peychaud's or Fee's (which can't be helped I suppose). More still shake the drink, even when serving it on the rocks. That's why I drink them at home, alone, in the dark, naked.
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