Manhattan Love Story Cocktail

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 12/3/21
Tuthilltown Spirits' Manhattan Love Story Cocktail Recipe
Jonathan Kantor/The Image Bank/Getty Images
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

Whiskey and sake come together with a hint of ginger to create the Manhattan love story. It's an intriguing new take on the traditional Manhattan and is a wonderful marriage of flavors.

In this recipe, a premium whiskey is allowed to shine in all its glory. Sake takes over as the modifier role that vermouth typically plays in the Manhattan and the ginger liqueur gives it a sweet and spicy undertone. It's an engaging drink and one that would make an excellent dinner companion, no matter what's on the menu.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces whiskey

  • 1 ounce dry sake

  • 1/2 ounce ginger liqueur

  • 2 dashes bitters

  • Orange peel, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a mixing glass filled with ice, pour the whiskey, sake, ginger liqueur, and bitters.

  3. Stir well.

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

  5. Garnish with an orange peel. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Pour any whiskey you like in this cocktail; bourbons and rye whiskeys would be preferred. Make sure it's a premium brand.
  • Dry sake is best in this cocktail rather than a sweet one. If a label doesn't include either word, look for the Sake Meter Value (SMV), which is typically always there. A positive SMV value (as opposed to one represented by negative numbers) indicates a dry sake. Those with an SMV of +10 to +15 are going to be very dry.
  • There are several types of ginger liqueur you can choose, so experiment to determine which one you like best.
  • Typically, an "orange peel" garnish is simply a 2-inch long piece that's about 1 inch wide, though an elegant orange twist works, too.
  • If you want to get really fancy, flame the peel by squeezing it (peel facing the cocktail) over the glass while holding a lit lighter or match. When the oils squirt out, you'll witness a small fireball.

How Strong Is a Manhattan Love Story?

Just like any Manhattan, this cocktail is not a light drink in any sense. Not only is it bursting with flavor, but it also has a rather high alcohol content. Though it will vary based on what you pour for each ingredient, the Manhattan love story should weigh in somewhere around 28 percent ABV (56 proof). That's over half the strength of a typical shot of straight whiskey.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
203 Calories
0g Fat
11g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 203
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 8mg 41%
Calcium 11mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 26mg 1%
*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.)