Saturday Sipping: Maker's Mark Bourbon and a Manhattan

The Manhattan is one of the quintessential whiskey cocktails and while this sweet variation of the Martini is customarily created using rye whiskey it is equally delicious with many of the premium bourbons. For this installment of Saturday Sipping I wanted to share the Maker's Mark take on the Manhattan.

Maker's Mark is sweeter than most bourbons and considerably more gentle, making it perfect for introducing anyone into the world of bourbon. When stirred into a Manhattan this premium bourbon is astounding and I prefer to stay on the lighter side of vermouth usage - just a 1/2 oz (or a little less) of sweet vermouth is perfect. Another little trick to Maker's Mark Manhattan that I learned from Bill Samuels Jr. is to skip the bitters and use a dash of cherry juice instead. This twist adds just a touch of extra sweetness that makes the drink perfect for either before or after dinner, or anytime you have a sweet tooth but want to steer clear of those overly-creamy "Martinis."