When asked our favorite libation, many potential answers present themselves depending on our mood. But when it comes to cocktails one drink stands above the rest - the Manhattan. This classic cocktail is the epitome of grown-up drinking: no juice, no shaking, no (plastic) monkeys. Just whiskey (usually rye or bourbon), vermouth and a few dashes of bitters, well stirred and served up. When well made, it's pure pleasure. When not, it's a boozy mess. Debuting in the Manhattan Club in the 1870s, the Manhattan is about a hundred years older than we are. In the intervening years, it has inspired many variations and knock-offs. In honor of the original's outsized influence, we decided to embark on a project to find the best Manhattans in Manhattan - and beyond. We will search far and wide, high end and low end, to identify the best and warn you about the worst. We'll let bartenders guide us when it comes to the booze and see where they take us. And we will also tell you about some of the city's best new creations inspired by the drink.
But we can't drink the city by ourselves, hard as we try, so we'd like to hear from you about where to find the best Manhattan, who makes it or how you like to order it. Drop us an email or leave a comment.
Our first stop was a natural, a New York institution with a great bar: Gramercy Tavern.
Gramercy Tavern is one of New York's most popular and beloved restaurants, with crowds filling both its dining rooms and the handsome bar, which has been pouring well-crafted drinks since it opened over 14 years ago. The restaurant is particularly festive during the holidays (see right) and a favorite drinking spot of both New Yorkers and visitors this time of the year. Sidling up to the bar and ordering a Manhattan is one of those great New York moments.
The bartender did not ask us which liquor we wanted, which is unusual, but hey, we were up for it. After giving a vigorous stir and skewering four lovely dark little maraschino cherries, he poured the drink. It was very dry and potent - very good but not quite perfect. The booze? Rittenhouse Rye. The damage? $12.
Gramercy Tavern
42 East 20th Street
suggestion: The brandy Library perfect manhattan...it was a manhattan perfectly tailored to my personality, cool substantial not overwhelming or overdone! The posion of choice, too many to try!
Brandy Library is definitely on my list. My problem is I go there and all I want to do is drink Scotch. Not the cheapest habit...
Is it called the Perfect Manhattan? what booze did they use?