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pictured is a brandy manhattan. It is a brown liquid drink with two cherries on it. With a bottle of brandy in the top right and cherries in a bowl on the righ

Easy Brandy Manhattan Cocktail Recipe

Cindy
This Brandy Manhattan cocktail has a complex flavor with a hint of fruitiness from the vermouth and herbaceousness from the bitters. We’re switching up a classic manhattan and adding a bit of sweetness by using brandy instead of whiskey.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Cocktail Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 1
Calories 169 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ounces brandy
  • ½ ounce sweet vermouth
  • 2 dashes angostura bitters
  • Maraschino or Luxardo cherry for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Fill a cocktail shaker (or mixing glass) with ice. Add the brandy, vermouth, and bitters.
    brown liquid being poured into a glass
  •  Gently stir to chill– about 10 seconds. 
    brown liquid and ice cubes being stirred
  • Strain the cocktail into a martini or coupe glass and garnish with a cherry. Enjoy immediately.
    brown liquid being strained from a mixer into a glass

Notes

Variations 
  • Don’t have brandy on hand? Feel free to swap it out for bourbon or rye! 
  • Try changing up the angostura bitters and using orange or cardamom bitters instead. 
Ingredient Notes 
  • We’re using brandy in this manhattan! While this isn’t traditional, brandy is a bit sweeter and more floral than bourbon and it does wonderfully in this cocktail. 
  • Sweet vermouth (red vermouth) adds a bitter fruitiness to the manhattan. Using fresh vermouth is very important as stale vermouth tends to taste a bit more sour. 
  • Angostura bitters add warmth and spice notes, as well as an earthy flavor, to the manhattan.
Keyword brandy manhattan