When the snow starts falling, let our easy Winter Manhattan cocktail remind you of all the best bits of the festive season. Also known as a Christmas Manhattan cocktail, this chilled bourbon drink is guaranteed to warm you from the inside out. With cosy caramel and apple notes that feel like a dessert in a glass, it’s no wonder this bourbon cocktail has become a popular pour over the Christmas period. Best enjoyed fireside, while the turkey’s roasting in the oven and the Christmas tunes are playing.
Winter Manhattan Cocktail
PREP TIME 5 min
QUICK TIPS
INSTRUCTIONS
01
Pour all ingredients into a mason jar or cocktail shaker and fill with ice
02
Stir until completely chilled
03
Strain into chilled cocktail or martini glass
04
Garnish with a twist of lemon and enjoy
What is the Winter Manhattan cocktail?
This wintery spin on the much-loved classic is a fantastic holiday Manhattan cocktail to enjoy with family and friends. The Winter Manhattan cocktail is carbon copy of a classic recipe with whiskey and vermouth but with an apple twist in the form of sour apple liqueur.
If you are wondering where this festive Manhattan cocktail originated, the specifics are a bit blurry. We like to think it was shaken up in a warm kitchen at Christmas time to match the warm aromas of apple pies baking in the oven.
You might also like: 9 Best Christmas Cocktails
Winter Manhattan cocktail recipe
Although a Winter Manhattan may sound sophisticated, it’s much easier to make than you might think! Choosing your whisky is the hardest part but we’ll make it simple for you: choose a good quality one like Wild Turkey Rye for its vanilla and spice notes. This rich bourbon pairs perfectly with a top-shelf sweet vermouth like a Cinzano Rosso or 1757® Vermouth di Torino Rosso, which brings tasty black cherry and caramel into the mix. The cocktail is rounded off with a tart and sour apple liqueur, bring together all of the festive flavours into one glass.
Chill your cocktail glass in advance before glamorously serving with a twist of lemon.
Read next: Everything You Need to Know About Rye Whiskey vs Bourbon
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Absolutely, Manhattans are served icy cold. The ingredients should be stirred until cold over ice before straining into a well-chilled cocktail glass.
The OG classic Manhattan is two parts whiskey, normally rye but sometimes bourbon, poured with one part sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters. The "Perfect Manhattan" is almost exactly the same but has a vermouth twist; the vermouth is split equally with a dry vermouth and a sweet vermouth.
Oh, where do we start? There are so many to choose from, obviously any Manhattan cocktail is great for colder weather with the warming notes of whisky. Check out our Easy Winter Cocktails if you’re hosting a crowd or discover the best Hot Rum Cocktails for cosy mug cocktails. We also love the Mexican Hot Chocolate and, of course, the ultimate Hot Toddy.
When winter cold is biting and you want to snuggle up by the fire curled up with a cosy cocktail, we recommend rum, whiskey or brandy-based drinks for ultimate fireside vibes. These spirits make delicious cocktails that you can serve warm or chilled, and their caramel notes mimic those cosy festive flavours we love so much.
