How to Make the Maker’s Mark Manhattan

Yes, the classic Manhattan cocktail was invented in Manhattan, New York, at the Manhattan Club, but this Maker’s Mark version comes directly from Kentucky.

Where the Manhattan was born

The urban myth is that the recipe for the perfect Manhattan cocktail was born at the Manhattan Club in New York City in the 1870s. Fun fact, it was supposedly invented for Winston Churchill’s mother, the American socialite Jennie Jerome. This might all be false, but it does appear in one of the first cocktail recipe books, The Flowing Bowl by bartender William Schmidt, published in 1891. Whenever and wherever it truly began, the Manhattan has become one of the most popular cocktails of all time.

What is Maker’s Mark Bourbon

Maker’s Mark is an original handmade premium bourbon, made with a mash bill of corn, soft red winter wheat, and malted barley. You can visit the distillery, which has been designated a national historic landmark.

Bill Samuels created the recipe for the bourbon itself in the 1950s, but it was the marketing brilliance of his wife, Margie Samuels, that put Maker’s Mark on the map. She had downright revolutionary ideas for her time, and thought of everything from the name to the bottle design to that iconic red wax topper.

Each and every label of Maker’s Mark is individually stamped using a hand-press label maker, using original machine that is as old as the brand itself. The signature S Mark IV is a star for the farm they used to live in, the S for Samuels and the IV for Bill being a fourth-generation distiller. The Master Distiller today is Greg Davis.

The hot Kentucky summers are perfect for barrel condition for storing the 500-pound barrels of Maker’s Mark. They are the only major bourbon house that hand rotates the barrels. From the top of the rickhouse to the bottom, the smell is divine and has your taste buds eager for that first sip.

The different flavoring grains give it tons of flavor, make for a premium taste and an easy finish!

What is Maker’s 46

According to cocktail historian David Wondrich, a real Manhattan calls for rye whiskey. We are happily bending the rules here and using Maker’s 46 instead. Maker’s 46 was released in 2010 as the first new expression to come out of the Maker’s Mark distillery since the original bourbon went into production back in 1953, so it took over half a century for them to try something new.

To make it, they take standard Maker’s Mark and insert ten seared virgin French oak staves into the barrel, then let it finish for several more weeks. The result is a bourbon that is bolder and more complex than the original, with more caramel and baking spice, which is exactly why it holds its own so beautifully in a Manhattan.

Stirred, Not Shaken

A Manhattan should always be stirred, never shaken. Shaking introduces air and tiny shards of ice that cloud the drink and dilute it too quickly, and a Manhattan wants to stay silky and clear. Stir with plenty of fresh ice for about 30 seconds, long enough to properly chill and dilute the bourbon without watering it down.

What Is the Manhattan

The original recipe starts with four simple ingredients, rye or bourbon, sweet vermouth, a few dashes of Angostura bitters, and the perfect finishing touch, a maraschino cherry. I am not a snob about a maraschino cherry in my cocktail, but feel free to use the original Luxardo and also the Fabbri Amarena Wild Cherries.

Tools, Ice, and Glassware

You won’t be needing a cocktail shaker for this one! Grab a jigger, a mixing glass, barspoon, strainer, and an Old Fashioned glass (or rocks glass.), chilled cocktail glass or martini glass. Just make sure you use fresh ice cubes, because it’s an ingredient too!

Up is the more traditional route and keeps the bourbon at full strength, while on the rocks brings a touch more dilution as it sits. Whichever you choose, always use fresh ice, a large clear cube if you can, since it melts slower and keeps your Manhattan colder for longer without watering it down too fast.

Top Tip(ple)🍸: You can find all the tools you need and how to use them in my guide to choosing the best home bar tools!

How Many Calories in a Maker’s Mark Manhattan

A classic Maker’s Mark Manhattan comes in at around 155 calories per serving, most of that from the bourbon itself since the vermouth and bitters are used sparingly. That makes it a relatively light pour as far as spirit forward cocktails go.

More to Try

• If you love the Manhattan format but want something a little wilder, try our Black Manhattan
• Craving more bourbon? Our Bourbon Old Fashioned is another five minute classic
• For something lighter and more herbal, our Old Forester Mint Julep is a beautiful warm weather sip

Where to find the best Maker’s Mark Manhattans in the world

You can find great Manhattans at pretty much any bar in Louisville or the state of Kentucky. If you are heading to KY, then don’t miss enjoying the Maker’s Make Distillery Tour.

Why Lush Life Loves It

We love this one because it takes something so simple, really just bourbon, vermouth, and bitters, and turns it into one of the most elegant sips in the whole cocktail canon. Using Maker’s 46 instead of the more traditional rye gives it a rounder, spicier warmth that feels perfect for cooler evenings, and there is something wonderful about a drink with this much history still being poured exactly the same way over a century later.

Here is the recipe!