Mile High Manhattan Cocktail

Maker's Mark Mile High Manhattan Whiskey Cocktail
Judd Pilossof/The Image Bank/Getty Images
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

While it is not really a Manhattan in the traditional sense, the Mile High Manhattan is a loose interpretation of the classic whiskey cocktail made with Maker's Mark. Though there is no vermouth and the recipe resembles its namesake in whiskey alone, it is just as alluring.

The recipe is simple and elegant. The bourbon is accented with the sweet flavor of a vanilla liqueur and rich citrus of Grand Marnier. It's then finished off with a hint of anise. The result is a dynamic drink that has a slight herbal spice to contrast the sweetness.

The trick to this cocktail is to be very gentle with the anise liqueur. Just a few drops will do because it is meant to accentuate the drink much in the way bitters are typically used. It is easy to add too much anise, so take it slow.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the whiskey and liqueurs.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

  5. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • This drink is best served in a chilled glass. If you don't have one prechilled, place a few ice cubes in the glass while you mix the cocktail, then discard them before straining.
  • There are many choices for anise liqueurs. You could use absinthe or any of its substitutes. Pernod and Herbsaint are both excellent options, as are anisette, ouzo, pastis, and sambuca.
  • The vanilla liqueur has many options as well. Bols Vanilla is a great choice and there are a few brands that make vanilla schnapps. For a light herbal twist, there's Galliano. Though anise is also a dominant flavor of the L'Autentico formula (the most popular bottle), the brand does make a vanilla liqueur as well. If you want to add a little more citrus to the drink, try Tuaca.

Recipe Variations

  • Just like the Manhattan, you can serve this drink on the rocks in an old-fashioned glass if you prefer.
  • Another option for the anise liqueur is to rinse the glass. It's a technique used in classic drinks like the corpse reviver no. 2 where just a hint of absinthe is desired. To do this, pour a small amount of the liqueur in the chilled glass, swirl it around to coat the inside, then dump out any excess.

How Strong Is a Mile High Manhattan

Whenever a drink is served in the martini style and made entirely of liquor, you should expect it to be a strong drink. That's definitely the case for the Mile High Manhattan, which has an average alcohol content of 36 percent ABV (72 proof). When deciding whether or not to mix up another round, keep in mind that this fancy cocktail is nearly the strength of the whiskey you pour.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
851 Calories
0g Fat
72g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 851
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 72g 26%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 70g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 1mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 10mg 0%
*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.)