The Rustic Manhattan

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 11/15/21
Rustic Manhattan Cocktail

The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The sweet taste of apples and raspberries come together in the rustic Manhattan. It is a simple variation on the Manhattan and a spectacular cocktail you'll definitely want to try. The beautiful fruity flavor is a nice bridge for the gap between summer and autumn, though it's wonderful year-round.

This recipe was created by Robert Watrous of San Diego, California and it is a fresh twist on the popular Manhattan. All of the original ingredients were sourced from New York State, which is rather appropriate. And, you're sure to enjoy the fruit undertones that add a little more dimension to a very familiar cocktail.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice.

  3. Stir well.

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

  5. Garnish with a fan of apple slices and a maraschino cherry. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Anytime you're garnishing with cut apples, dip them in lemon juice immediately after slicing them. This will prevent the flesh from turning brown as it is exposed to oxygen and ensure your cocktail looks fabulous while you enjoy it.
  • You can make your own raspberry-infused vermouth. The sweet taste of raspberries is perfect for a dry vermouth base and the infusion should take about one week, though you will want to test its taste periodically. Be sure to use a fine strainer or double strain it to ensure you remove all the tiny seeds.
  • Dry vermouth will also do just fine in the recipe. Muddle a few raspberries before adding the other ingredients to bring that flavor back.

The Whiskey

Some apple whiskeys are made from real apples. When used, it has an amazing flavor that is perfect for mixing into cocktails. Be careful when searching for apple whiskeys, however. The flavored whiskey market is littered with whiskeys that are either too sweet or unnaturally flavored and more like a liqueur than a whiskey. This cocktail deserves a true apple whiskey.

DIY Apple Whiskey

Another option that ensures you get a great naturally flavored apple whiskey is to infuse it yourself. You can choose any whiskey you like, though it would be best with one that is smooth and not too robust so the apple flavor can shine. Good candidates would be a blended whiskey, like those from Canada, any softer bourbons, or even an Irish whiskey.

For whiskey, red apples would be a good choice. Cut them into chunks or wedges so they fit inside your infusion container. The apple infusion should take about one week, after which you'll want to taste it to see if the flavor has reached your desired intensity. Go longer if you like, testing it again every couple days. 

How Strong Is a Rustic Manhattan?

The rustic Manhattan is comparable in strength to other variations on the Manhattan. With the suggested whiskey and regular dry vermouth, it shakes up to an alcohol content around 22 percent ABV (44 proof).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
225 Calories
0g Fat
21g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 225
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 7%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 6mg 28%
Calcium 11mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 151mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)