Over the last couple decades, thanks to the mixology renaissance of the early aughts, there’s been a renewed interest in classic cocktails. One of the most popular mixed drinks to make a triumphant resurgence is the timeless Manhattan.
At its most basic level, the Manhattan is a cocktail made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. The vermouth is most often sweet red vermouth and the bitters are typically Angostura. While the whiskey is up to you (bourbon, Canadian whisky, and Tennessee whiskey all work well), the drink is most often made with a base of rye whiskey.
Rye whiskey adds a peppery, spicy, herbal, nuanced base to this memorable drink. It pairs perfectly with the sweetness and wine-like fruitiness of the vermouth as well as the spicy, rich flavors from the bitters. Rye whiskey gives the drink the most balance of all the whiskey types.
Like many cocktails, the history of the Manhattan cocktail is murky at best. There’s no official origin story. Some believe it was created in the 1870s at New York City’s Manhattan Club for a dinner with Lady Randolph Churchill. Others believe it was created in the 1860s at the Hoffman Bar on Broadway in New York. The drink was first mentioned in newspapers and cocktail books in the 1880s. Regardless of its true origins, there’s no disputing the popularity of this classic cocktail.
Now that you’ve learned a little bit about its hazy history and what comprises the drink, it’s time to find some whiskey to mix into it. Keep scrolling to see the best rye whiskeys to mix into a traditional Manhattan.
Image via Campari America
Russell’s Reserve 6-Year Rye
This 90-proof rye whiskey consists of hand-picked barrels from the center of the barrelhouse. It matures for a minimum of six years. The result is a bold, complex whiskey perfect for sipping or mixing into cocktails like the Manhattan. It adds flavors like candied nuts, allspice, cracked black pepper, vanilla, caramel candy, and cinnamon to the drink.
Photo via Beam Suntory
Old Overholt 86
There are very few rye whiskeys with more name recognition than Old Overholt—and for good reason. Perfect for mixing into drinks like the Manhattan, Old Overholt is matured for four years and bottled at 86 proof. This non-chill filtered whiskey is known for its memorable, bold flavor profile featuring notes of dried fruits, cracked blacked pepper, vanilla, and gentle spices. It’s surprisingly balanced between sweetness and spice.
Photo via The Sazerac Company
Sazerac Rye
Named for the iconic Sazerac Coffee House in New Orleans, Sazerac Rye matures for six years in charred American oak barrels. The result is a 90-proof whiskey well-suited for sipping or mixing. When mixed into a Manhattan, it brings notes of candied orange peels, vanilla beans, caramelized sugar, black pepper, cinnamon, and oak. This is the kind of do-it-all rye whiskey you’ll want to stock on your home bar in perpetuity.
Photo via Michter’s Distillery
Michter’s US-1 Straight Rye
Michter’s is well-known for its bourbons. But don’t sleep on its surprisingly affordable, complex rye whiskey. This single-barrel whiskey matures in fire-charred, new American oak barrels. This creates a highly sippable, mixable whiskey loaded with flavors like caramelized sugar, vanilla beans, charred oak, wintry spices, dried fruits, and cracked black pepper.
Photo via Heaven Hill Distillery
Pikesville Rye
This award-winning rye whiskey was first made in Maryland in the late 1800s. While it’s now produced at Kentucky’s Heaven Hill distillery using extra-aged barrels, it doesn’t change how perfect this Maryland-style rye whiskey is for the classic Manhattan. It matures for six years and is bottled at a potent 110 proof. The result is a noteworthy whiskey centered on flavors like cocoa powder, clover honey, wintry spices, toasted vanilla beans, and just a hint of smoke.
Photo via the Brown-Forman Corporation
Old Forester Rye
Old Forester is another brand that’s known first and foremost for its bourbon. But if you don’t branch out into the rye whiskey, you’re really missing out on something special. Based on a historic recipe, this whiskey is made with a mash bill of 65 percent rye, 20 percent malted barley, and 15 percent corn. This award-winning spirit is filled with flavors like brown sugar, citrus peels, cinnamon, orchard fruits, and cracked black pepper.
Photo via Illva Saronno
Sagamore Spirit Rye Double Oak
If you’ve never tried a rye whiskey from Sagamore Spirit, what are you waiting for? Sagamore Spirit Rye Double Oak is a great choice for your evening Manhattan. It’s first matured between four and five years in high-char new American oak barrels, before being transferred to toasted wave stave barrels for eighteen more months. The result is a nuanced whiskey loaded with flavors like caramel, toasted coconut, candied nuts, vanilla beans, and light spices.
Photo via Heaven Hill Distillery
Rittenhouse Rye
Rittenhouse Rye is one of the biggest names in the rye whiskey world. Named for Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square, this iconic whiskey is bottled-in-bond and matured for four years and bottled at a robust, mixable 100 proof. The result is an award-winning, memorable, spicy spirit known for its flavors of dried fruits, caramelized sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, candied orange peels, wintry spices, and maple candy.
