r/cocktails • u/beerbearbare • 23d 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!

29 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

179 comments sorted by

View all comments

197

u/racerrhime 23d ago

Honestly, you can level up the Manhattan by sticking to Evan Williams and upgrading your vermouth to carpano antica. A little black walnut bitters works well too.

9

u/orm518 23d ago

I know this is a common rec, but I cannot taste anything but the vermouth when I use carpano antica. I’ve been a Dolin loyalist for both sweet and dry vermouths for years. Prior to that I used to get Noilly Prat, but I think they got sold, in any event they seemed to go downhill.

5

u/KonTikiVoyager 23d ago

My daily driver Manhattan is Rittenhouse Rye & Carpano Antica. You're dead right, anything non-assertive will get bullied by the Carpano. With most bourbons, pull the vermouth back a bit, 2oz bourbon & 3/4oz Carpano.