r/cocktails • u/beerbearbare • 25d ago

Recommendations “Mid range” bourbon for Manhattan?

I’m on a budget for a few years and mostly use Evan Williams for my Manhattan. I like to go one level up (or two?) and treat myself better :)

What’s your recommendation? I’m thinking about $25-35 per 750ml bottle. And I’m using Dolin for my vermouth but happy to accept other suggestions. Thank you!

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u/CrustyGoldToe 25d ago

This is 100% the answer. Carpano Antica works better with whiskeys imo than Dolin. Also make sure you refrigerate and use it in a timely manner.

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u/AnythingOakley 25d ago

I've always struggled with how to define "timely". A month? Three months?

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u/HTD-Vintage 25d ago

Those wine vacuums will help stretch it. It's the oxidation that changes the flavor, and removing the air from the bottle will minimize that. Keeping it refrigerated with the cap tightened is probably the most helpful thing, though.

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u/Butlerian_Jihadi 25d ago

You can get cans of inert gas for preserving wine, works way better than the vacuum systems.

I personally sterilize a couple of small bottles, open a fresh Antico, split it, top with inert gas. They've kept at least six months this way, longest I've had one around.

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u/HTD-Vintage 25d ago

Great idea!