The Manhattan Cocktail

A well made Manhattan is one of the most satisfying, delicious and classy cocktails you can drink.  Tony Abou-Ganim said its like "Frank Sinatra in a glass...holding one in your hand gives you an instant status of high class, sophistication and quality".

On Bartender Journey Podcast #146 we talk about this iconic Cocktail and a competition revolving around it.

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Woodford Reserve and Liquor.com teamed up for the Manhattan Experience Cocktail Competition.

• To enter the contest, you must:
  • “Provide your 'ideal' recipe for the classic Manhattan Cocktail using Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Bourbon, including the way you would serve it to guests”.
  • Provide a second cocktail: “An original Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Cocktail that showcases the flavor profile of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and that you would proudly serve to guests in your own bar”
• Among the judging criteria for the Manhattan segment of the contest are:
  • Optional Written Question
  • Insights and opinions as to what makes the Manhattan interesting and important
  • Comprehensive understanding of the Manhattan Cocktail
    

So to help us to understand the iconic Manhattan Cocktail a little better, our guest on the Bartender Journey Podcast this week is the author of The Manhattan Cocktail: A Modern Guide to the Whiskey Classic, Professor Albert W. A. Schmid.  He is
Professor & Director, Hotel-Restaurant Management & Hospitality Management Departments at Sullivan University's National Center for Hospitality Studies
Louisville, Kentucky.

• He is also Author of
  • The Old Fashioned: An Essential Guide to the Original Whiskey Cocktail
  • The Beverage Manager's Guide to Wines, Beers and Spirits
  • The Kentucky Bourbon Cookbook

On the Bartender Journey lately, we’ve been talking a bit about cocktail competitions.  The new competitions page contains some upcoming contests and a few resources about how to best enter them and win.  By the way, the most important thing is READ ALL THE RULES.  Then read them again.

The deadline for the Manhattan Experience contest is Jan 31, 2016.

Cocktail of the Week #1:
USBG Manhattan Cocktail

• 2 oz Rye or Bourbon Whiskey
• 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
• Dash Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice in a mixing cup.  Strain into a chilled Cocktail glass.  Garnish with cherry.

Cocktail of the Week #2:
Aquafaba Whiskey Sour

• 1 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
• 3/4 oz Simple Syrup
• 2 oz Bourbon
• 1/2 oz Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas)

Dry shake (no ice) all ingredients for at least 10 seconds.  Add ice to shaker.  Shake for at least 20 more seconds.  Strain into Old Fashioned Glass prepared with fresh ice.  Garnish with cherry &/or lemon twist.
(Cocktail Stirrer courtesy of Drynkware).