Are you supposed to use bitters in a perfect manhattan, i.e., one using both sweet and dry vermouth? Thanks.
Perfect Manhattan - bitters?
- Thread starter Obsessed
- Start date
By definition, a Manhattan cocktail has bitters.
Without doubt or fail.
- Thread starter
- #4
That's what I always thought, but believe it or not there are recipes out there that omit bitters for a perfect manhattan.
I made one tonight; not bad, but I prefer the standard manhattan.
I always thought that a "Perfect Manhattan" (as opposed to a perfect "Manhattan") had Rye or bourbon, 1/2 sweet and 1/2 dry vermouth, and still had Angustura bitters. It was also garnished with a lemon twist rather than a cherry.
I am completely stunned. Having worked in the restaurant/bar business for over 25 years, I had no idea that bitters was an ingredient in a Manhattan (I've just Googled it to be sure). I thought I was extremely knowledgeable about cocktails, almost to a fault, and this one has me flabbergasted. I don't know how I'm going to redeem myself for years of faulty mixing. Yikes...
Hi Tom. Don't be hard on yourself. Things change from time to time. It is not that hard to understand. I am certainly no mixologist and really just learning what it takes to make good cocktails so I only speak the mental part of this. For DECADES, many enthusiasts in the firearms world have referred to the .45 Colt of western fame as the .45 Long Colt. No such round EVER existed. Oh, there are modern ammo manufacturers who stamp their case heads with "LC" and "L Colt" and the like but Colt's Patent Firearms did not. It was just given the label to differentiate from a different but similar in calibre round, the .45Automatic Colt Pistol. It gained rapid favour and folks were afraid of ammo mix ups, etc. So they added the long to the .45. Over the years it stuck. It is the same I think with the Manhattan and bitters. As bitters faded in popularity, so did the listing of them as ingredients in a lot of cocktails. People didn't ask for them so why would you necessarily go against what you were taught behind the bar? Now they are back thanks to the resurgence of classic drinks. BTW, the .45 Colt has seen a major renaissance in the last 25 years as well.
Regards, Todd
Regards, Todd
- Thread starter
- #8
Tom, we forgive you. Just jump right back on the horse and MIX!
Yes, I've understood the "perfect" descriptor to indicate half and half of the vermouths.
