Cherry Manhattan
Rye, sweet vermouth and a short measure of cherry liqueur, stirred, with a brandied cherry. The Manhattan with its garnish built in — darker, fruitier and the Manhattan for a Cherry Heering drinker.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Chill a coupe.
Add the rye, sweet vermouth, cherry liqueur and bitters to a mixing glass.
Fill with ice and stir for 25 seconds.
Strain into the chilled coupe and drop in a brandied cherry.
A thoughtful finish
- A quarter-ounce of Heering; half an ounce if you want it sweet.
- Pull the vermouth back to half an ounce to make room for the liqueur.
- A dash of the cherry jar's syrup is the bar shortcut and works.
Common mistakes
- Too much cherry liqueur, which makes a dessert.
- Red-dyed cherries.
- Shaking.
A few good questions.
What does a Cherry Manhattan taste like?
A Manhattan with dark cherry fruit through it — sweeter, rounder, still rye-led.
Which cherry liqueur?
Cherry Heering is the standard; Luxardo Sangue Morlacco is drier; kirsch is dry and strong.
Is it the Hunter?
The Hunter is rye and cherry liqueur without vermouth — its simpler ancestor.
Rye or bourbon?
Rye; the liqueur brings enough sweetness.
Variations
- Manhattan — Rye, sweet vermouth and bitters.
- Hunter — Rye and cherry liqueur.
- Remember the Maine — Rye, vermouth, cherry liqueur and absinthe.
- Blood and Sand — Scotch, cherry liqueur, vermouth and orange.
Where it comes from
c. 1900s · United States
Contested. More than one origin is claimed for this drink. We show the competing accounts rather than pick one.
The Manhattan has worn a cherry since the 1890s, and adding cherry liqueur to the drink itself is nearly as old — the Hunter (rye and cherry brandy) and the Remember the Maine (rye, vermouth, cherry liqueur, absinthe) are its pre-war relatives, and Cherry Heering’s arrival in American bars made it a standard move. The modern Cherry Manhattan is a classic Manhattan with a quarter to half-ounce of Cherry Heering alongside the vermouth, stirred, with a Luxardo or Amarena cherry; some bars use kirsch for a drier version or a cherry bark bitters. The liqueur’s dark fruit suits rye’s spice and the vermouth’s vanilla, and it makes a Manhattan that is a little sweeter and a lot more cherry.
Sources
- Difford's Guide, Cherry Manhattan, 2010 (reference)
- Jacques Straub, Drinks, 1914 (book)
- Liquor.com, Cherry Manhattan, 2019 (reference)
Strength. About 1.84 US standard drinks at an estimated 30.1% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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