Whats the Difference Between a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned

I'm oftentimes asked the difference between a Manhattan and an Former Fashioned. The two classic whiskey cocktails seem widely different to me, only I've tasted hundreds of them.

To someone new to the whiskey or cocktail space, Manhattan vs Old Fashioned seems mysterious, because there really are a lot of commonalities between them. Both are storied cocktails that keep whiskey front and center in the cocktails – whether that'south rye or bourbon.

If you lot'd rather have the cliff notes, here's a table for you, otherwise, for the details on why these elements thing, read on below.

Cliff Notes: Manhattan vs Old Fashioned

But let'due south get into the details, because that's far more interesting.

Similarities betwixt the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan

Commencement, the similarities. Both take whiskey equally their base of operations ingredient, and for both the preferred base spirit is a matter of contention between enthusiasts and experts. You already know how I volition answer it – build the cocktail to your own palate.

Both One-time Fashioneds and Manhattans can exist made with either bourbon or rye (or whatsoever whiskey, actually, even historically there's some debate every bit to what whiskey was used for the earliest versions).

Each cocktail also requires bitters to balance out flavors. Again, there are traditional bitters that are used (Angostura), but I personally adopt to add bitters that bring out flavors and aromas that aren't as nowadays at first sip. Mixologists volition often change out the bitters they are using depending on the flavors of the whiskey and the sweetness elements.

Speaking of sweet elements, in addition, each of the cocktails has a sugariness element. For the Quondam Fashioned, it's a simple syrup or a sugar cube. For the Manhattan, information technology'due south sweet vermouth. Vermouth is an aromatized fortified wine that has a fleck of spirit added to it and some botanicals to circular out the flavors of the wine.

Read my article A Whiskey Lover's Guide to Vermouth for all the details you need to know nearly vermouth as a whiskey fiend.

Stir or Shake: Manhattan vs One-time Fashioned

Yous'll notice both of the cocktails will be stirred, not shaken. Because both contain spirits, saccharide, and bitters, at that place'south no need to shake the cocktail to integrate the elements.

Learn how to easily batch a Manhattan or Old Fashioned for a Political party with my no-math, make ahead method.

Manhattans and Quondam Fashioneds Oftentimes Have the Same Garnish

Old Fashioned Cocktail

In terms of garnish, y'all'll encounter either orangish peels, cherries, or a combination of the 2 on both of the cocktails. Now that I call back about it, no wonder people get confused virtually the difference between the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned.

So really, the primary divergence is in the sweetening element, the ratios used, and how it's typically served. If you lot'd like a much more in-depth article about each. I have two articles: How to Brand the Perfect Old Fashioned and How to Make a Archetype Manhattan.

Every bit always, the devil is in the details. Here are the differences:

Which Came Outset, the Manhattan or the Onetime Fashioned?

A Perfect Erstwhile Fashioned Cocktail

The Old Fashioned is the original cocktail, some say. Its earliest iterations were known equally the Whiskey Cocktail and the cocktail was recorded first in 1862 in Jerry Thomas' Bartenders Guide. It consisted of whiskey, sugar (gum syrup), bitters, and water ice.

The Manhattan came virtually later – in the mid-1870s as vermouth was gaining popularity in the states. Bartenders always want to try something new. In this case, the new hot thing was vermouth, and the earliest Manhattans were an even ratio between whiskey and vermouth.

In this case of Manhattan vs Sometime Fashioned, the Old Fashioned wins for sheer history of it since we know information technology was around for many years before Jerry Thomas wrote it down.

Are Manhattans Served Differently from Old Fashioneds?

Archetype Bourbon Manhattan Cocktail

Typically, aye. While some people exercise order their Manhattans on the rocks, typically a Manhattan will exist served in a chilled up glass, either a coupe glass or a martini glass. Old Fashioneds are ever served on the rocks, although whether that's many cubes or 1 big-format ice cube varies from place to place and past preference.

How are the Cocktail Recipes Different for Manhattan vs Old Fashioned

You may be asking yourself, is a Manhattan sweeter than an Former Fashioned? On the whole, an Old Fashioned will gustation sweeter than a Manhattan and it all has to practise with ratios of spirit to sweet element.

An Old Fashioned uses a ratio (depending on preferences) of 2 oz bourbon to 1/2 oz simple syrup  (or ane/4 rich simple syrup) and a few dashes of bitters. It's booze forward, with only a modest amount of liquid added via syrup. If yous choose to add your sugar via muddling the bitters and sugar, you lot're adding even less. Here'due south a archetype Onetime Fashioned cocktail recipe.

Classic Old Fashioned

• two oz whiskey (bourbon or rye is traditionally used)
• 1/2 oz unproblematic syrup (I adopt demerara or calorie-free brown sugar uncomplicated syrup
• ii-3 dashes bitters (traditionally Angostura or other aromatic bitters)

1. Add together whiskey, uncomplicated and bitters to a mixing drinking glass.
2. Make full with ice and stir for thirty seconds.
3. Strain into a rocks glass with one big cube
4. Garnish with an orange skin and/or cocktail cherry

A Manhattan uses a bit more of its secondary ingredient. For a Manhattan, the ratio I employ is 2 oz whiskey to ane oz vermouth, merely in truth, it's flexible. Some prefer 2 oz whiskey to 1/two oz vermouth or even two.5 oz whiskey to 1/2 oz vermouth. Here's a base Manhattan cocktail recipe:

Classic Manhattan

• 2 oz whiskey (bourbon or rye is traditionally used)
• i oz sweet vermouth (reduce if the Manhattan is too sweet)
• 2-3 dashes bitters (traditionally Angostura or other aromatic bitters are used)
• Garnish: orangish peel and/or cocktail cherry

1. Add whiskey, bitters and vermouth to a mixing glass.
2. Fill with ice and stir for 20-thirty seconds.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
4. Garnish with an orange pare and/or cocktail cherry.

Even though the Manhattan has a larger ratio of the sugariness element to spirit, vermouth is non as sugariness equally elementary syrup and is far more complex with the botanicals added to it for flavor. This when you compare the two of them, the Erstwhile Fashioned will gustation sweeter, especially one time it dilutes slightly.

What's the Flavor Deviation between a Manhattan and an Erstwhile Fashioned

Bold Sometime Fashioned – Batched

Both cocktails are considered spirit-forward, pregnant the driving flavour contour volition be from the chief spirit used to brand them. In this case, it will be whiskey.

Both utilize bitters, then the primary difference of the two comes from that third chemical element, either carbohydrate equally in the instance of the Erstwhile Fashioned or vermouth as in the case of the Manhattan.

While sweet vermouth, the red vermouth typically used in Manhattan cocktails, is very sweet, it's highly aromatic with infused botanicals. Since it has a wine base information technology's also slightly sour. Because there'south no extra dilution of a Manhattan since it's not served on the rocks, information technology also doesn't soften or sweeten the way an Old Fashioned can over fourth dimension.

In addition, since information technology's served on the rocks, the Sometime Fashioned continues to dilute and modify as the water ice melts.

In that location are many classic variations on the Manhattan, and a expect through a list of 8 Variations on a Archetype Manhattan will requite you more data on some groovy options if a traditional Manhattan is non your preference.

What'due south Improve, the Old Fashioned or the Manhattan?

Equally always, that's a matter of preference. On the whole, the Old Fashioned is sweeter, and since information technology'southward on the rocks, it gets a flake sweeter and more diluted as you sip on it and the ice melts. Information technology's withal a spirit-forward, boozy cocktail, only for some people with a sweet tooth, information technology'due south a more approachable whiskey cocktail.

The Manhattan consists of layers of flavors and is a stronger, slightly more boozy drinkable. The whiskey in the cocktail still has the starring role, but the interaction of its flavors with both the bitters and the aromatized sweet vermouth makes it a cocktail that's more complex and intriguing.

If you adopt more complex, bitter, or intricate drinks, a Manhattan will be a better option.

That said, both tin be fabricated horribly wrong. Using the incorrect ratios, bitters, and bourbons that don't go together or improperly stored vermouth lessens the beauty of a well-crafted whiskey cocktail. If you've only tried ane, ask your favorite whiskey drinker their favorite place for a Manhattan.

The Recipe Difference between the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned Isn't Huge

Just the flavor differences are massive. While the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan may seem similar on the surface and have many of the same components, they are very different drinks with profoundly different flavor profiles.

The best manner to learn the departure between these two is to lodge one of each at the all-time whiskey bar in your city. Just tell the bartender it's for science.

Read on for my favorite tweaks on both the Classic Manhattan and the Perfect Old Fashioned.

Other articles y'all might like:

• Drinking Bourbon for Beginners
• Variations on the Manhattan

Classic Manhattan Recipe

For this Classic Bourbon Manhattan Recipe, we're sticking to the nuts, quality bourbon, excellent vermouth and a few dashes and drops of bitters to tie everything together. It's effortlessly sippable as a bourbon- (or whiskey-) lover's cocktail.

Course Drinks

Cuisine Bourbon Cocktail

• 2 oz 100 proof bourbon I utilize Early Times Bottled in Bond or Johnny Pulsate
• i oz Cocchi Vermouth di Torino sweet vermouth
• 16 drops Bohemian Bitters aromatic bitters
• eight drops spiced cherry bitters
• 8 drops orange bitters
• Garnish: orangish skin and optional ruby-red

• Combine vermouth, bourbon and bitters in a mixing glass and fill with ice.

• Stir until well-chilled and strain into a chilled coupe.

• Express the oils from an orange peel over the cocktail and garnish with the peel. Add a red if you like.

Keyword bitters, manhattan, sweet vermouth

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