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    Home / Drinks

    5 from 3 reviews

    Sweet Cherry Manhattans

    By Alanna Taylor-Tobin on Jul 13, 2012 (updated Feb 9, 2022) / 11 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    sweet cherry manhattan

    Like gin and tonics, I always assumed the Manhattan to be an old man drink.

    cherries on a table top

    But one evening, I sipped off of a friend's manhattan (who happened to be an older gentleman) and was delighted at its hint of sweetness and underlying complexity.

    cherries being muddled

    The key to the manhattan lies in the addition of sweet, red vermouth, which balances out the tartness of bourbon (which is the whiskey most often used these days, though rye is traditional). A dash of Angostura bitters adds depth, and the drink is served either stirred with ice and strained into a martini glass, or poured over ice in a rocks glass. A glowing maraschino cherry is the typical garnish, and sometimes the dyed-red juice from the jar is added for sweetness and color.

    glasses on a chopping board

    With the abundance of sweet cherries in the market, I decided to make a manhattan the bojon way, by muddling fresh cherries with the other ingredients. The result is a tangy, smooth beverage that's strong enough for an old man, but made for a girly drinker like myself.

    jigger pouring liquor

    I thought of titling these "womanhattans" but a Google search revealed that cocktail consultant Ryan Magarian beat me to it with a womanhattan made with raspberry vodka added to the usual suspects.

    cocktail being poured

    So if you think of another clever name for this drink, let me know. Meanwhile, cheers.

    manhattan in a glass

    More drinks recipes:

    • Indian Summer Blues (with cardamom, rose and gin)
    • Sparkling Whiskey Gingerade
    • Home Brewed Tonic Water
    • Rosemary Peach Maple Leaf Cocktail

    *Bojon appétit! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram,  Facebook, or Pinterest, purchase my gluten-free cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make this sweet cherry Manhattan recipe, I’d love to know. Leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet  and  #bojongourmet.*

    glass of sweet cherry manhattan
    5 from 3 reviews

    Sweet Cherry Manhattan

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    A twist on a classic cocktail.
    Alanna Taylor-Tobin
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 beverage strong enough to put hair on your chest!

    Ingredients

    • 6-8 sweet cherries, stemmed and rinsed, plus 1 for garnish
    • 2 ounces rye or bourbon whiskey
    • 3/4 ounce sweet, red vermouth
    • 4 drops Angostura bitters
    • ice
    • orange twist

    Instructions

    • In a tall, thin vessel, such as a cocktail shaker, muddle the cherries to a juicy pulp. Add the whiskey, vermouth and bitters, stir, and strain into a rocks glass over ice, pressing on the pulp to extract as much liquid as possible. (Be sure to eat the boozy pulp, but watch out for the cherry pits!) Garnish with the orange twist and cherry.

    Notes

    Beware of splattering cherries as you muddle; wear an apron, and use a tall, thin vessel, such as a cocktail shaker, to contain the splashes.
    Nutritional values are based on one drink.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 206kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 107mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin C: 10.1mg
    Making this? I'd love to see!Tag your snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet!

    Sweet Cherry Manhattan

    Beware of splattering cherries as you muddle; wear an apron, and use a tall, thin vessel, such as a cocktail shaker, to contain the splashes.

    Makes 1 beverage strong enough to put hair on your chest

    6-8 sweet cherries, stemmed and rinsed, plus 1 for garnish
    2 ounces rye or bourbon whiskey
    3/4 ounce sweet, red vermouth
    4 drops Angostura bitters
    ice
    orange twist

    In a tall, thin vessel, such as a cocktail shaker, muddle the cherries to a juicy pulp. Add the whiskey, vermouth and bitters, stir, and strain into a rocks glass over ice, pressing on the pulp to extract as much liquid as possible. (Be sure to eat the boozy pulp, but watch out for the cherry pits!) Garnish with the orange twist and cherry.

    cherries

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joyce says

      April 16, 2014 at 10:22 am

      Since there are not any fresh cherries in the stores yet, any suggestions what type to use in the meantime?? frozen? canned??

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        April 16, 2014 at 4:45 pm

        Hi Joyce, I like these mostly during cherry season, but you could certainly try them with canned or frozen cherries, too. You could also try fresh muddled berries if those are in season where you are. Cheers!

        Reply
    2. Robert Farrior says

      January 13, 2016 at 2:30 pm

      I found some frozen pitted cherries in my slightly upscale grocer. I thawed a handful, then muddled that. I also used 2 dashes of orange bitters as a variation. If I'm feeling like I need a hint more sweetness i put in a splash of the maraschino cherry syrup, especially if the cherries aren't that sweet.

      Reply
    3. Gary Chambers says

      August 15, 2016 at 9:27 pm

      Alanna, I just discovered this, and just in time for late summer cherries. Paula and I have decided this is THE drink for the Christmas/Whatever season! Fabulous. (I'm freezing cherries now in anticipation....) Gary

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        August 15, 2016 at 9:36 pm

        Hi Gary and Paula! I'm so glad you like this drink, and perfect for the holidays I'm sure. :) Thanks for the sweet note!

        Reply
    4. Sierra says

      October 17, 2016 at 8:30 pm

      Love the idea to mix old fashion and Manhattan together. My boyfriend calls my spin on the Manhattan a Miss-hattan! Just a thought for the name.

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        October 17, 2016 at 10:08 pm

        Aw, love it!!!

        Reply
    5. Mary Jo says

      July 26, 2019 at 1:11 pm

      Delicious! Thanks. Don’t go changin the name ... that’s silly! It’s named after a city.

      Reply
    6. Mallory says

      February 15, 2021 at 11:13 am

      I made this with luxardo cherries since sweet cherries aren't in season yet and OMG so good. Can't wait to try this summer with fresh sweet cherries!

      Reply
    7. Elizabeth says

      July 24, 2021 at 11:27 am

      I did a delicious version substituting 2 tablespoons tart cherry juice and chocolate bitters.

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        July 24, 2021 at 4:09 pm

        Oh wow, that sounds amazing. Cheers!

        Reply

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    I'm Alanna, a recovering pastry chef-turned food photographer, stylist, videographer, and award-winning cookbook author. The Bojon Gourmet is a celebration of the sweet, savory, and occasionally boozy recipes that I create in my San Francisco kitchen. About →

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