One of the most underrated skills for any pitmaster is whipping up both grilled masterpieces and superior cocktails. One such drink includes the ever-popular Manhattan, which remains an all-time international favorite adult beverage.

Is pulling together a fantastic Manhattan tough? Not in the least, especially if you follow our Manhattan drink recipe. The steps are incredibly simple and straightforward, allowing you to impress friends, family and neighbors without breaking a sweat.

What’s in a Manhattan?

If you’ve ever tasted a Manhattan, you know it’s a drink on the bitter, herbal side. That’s because it contains both bitters and vermouth. You can use either sweet vermouth as we suggest or dry vermouth. Choosing dry vermouth will give you even more of a dry finish to each sip.

The final main ingredient is whiskey, which lends a bit of a sweet undertone to the drink. Pick your nearest bottle of bourbon or rye. Some people have go-to whiskey brands, while others don’t. Experiment to see what you like.

In addition to the bitters, vermouth and whiskey, you can include other tempting Manhattan cocktail ingredients. We think having a whiskey-soaked cherry makes the drink stand out more. Additionally, you’ll notice we creatively use orange zest to give our Grilla Grills Manhattan a hint of fresh citrus. However, you can feel free to mix it up and personalize your Manhattan drink recipe.

For instance, you might want to replace the whiskey with brandy, turning it into a Brandy Manhattan. You can use equal amounts of dry and sweet vermouth for a Perfect Manhattan. Experiment to your heart’s content, knowing you can always go back to the tried-and-true basic recipe.

What Type of Food Goes Well With a Manhattan Cocktail?

Like all cocktails, you can serve a Manhattan any time, any place. Some foods go especially well next to the dry, bitter Manhattan. Believe it or not, many folks love to lean back with a Manhattan when they’re eating grilled ribs or a juicy grilled hamburger. Why? The Manhattan brings out the intense flavors of smoked, grilled meat.

Manhattans also make awesome choices if you’re serving hors d’oeuvres. Any type of flavorful, robust finger foods shines next to a Manhattan. After all, this drink clears the palate, allowing each bite to take on its truest taste.

Now you know how to make a Manhattan, so you have no excuses not to get out the shaker and lowball glasses!