Manhattan Vs Old Fashioned Cocktail- A Detailed Comparison

Manhattan Vs Old Fashioned: Whether a family event, corporate party, or friend’s birthday bash, no celebration is complete without good food and beverages. Good food and drinks make your guests feel happy and satisfied. When it comes to beverages, there are unlimited options for every drink lover. From juices to mocktails, and cocktails, drinks can spruce up any party. However, be it, men or women, the majority of the drinking population likes having cocktails.

A cocktail is a perfect blend of spirits (vodka, rum, or whiskey) and other ingredients like soda water, fruit juice, or flavored syrup. Are you planning to host a party? Looking for a perfect cocktail option? If yes, opt for manhattan and old-fashioned cocktails. These are two of the most classic, extremely delicious, and popular cocktails containing whiskey as the main ingredient. Though both are whiskey cocktails and have many similarities, Manhattan Vs Old Fashioned, are different in terms of taste, recipe, and other factors.

In this blog, we have tried our best to compare Manhattan Vs Old Fashioned to help you choose the best option as per your preference. Without any further delay, let’s get started. 

An Overview Of Manhattan Cocktail

Are you a whiskey lover? Like having classic cocktails? Then, manhattan is a go-to option. This classic cocktail contains rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Other than rye whiskey, you can choose other options like Canadian whiskey, blended whiskey, bourbon, and Tennessee whiskey.

The cocktail is served chilled in a stemmed glass and is garnished using a  brandied cherry. There also exists a reverse manhattan cocktail that includes different quantities and proportions of whiskey to vermouth.

An Overview Of Old Fashioned Cocktail

The old-fashioned is another popular cocktail that is prepared by muddling sugar with bitters and water and includes whiskey as its main ingredient. The drink is garnished with a cherry or orange slice. It is served chilled in an old-fashioned glass or rock glass filled with ice. 

Similarities Between Manhattan & Old Fashioned Cocktails

Both manhattan & old-fashioned cocktails are prepared using whiskey. You can use any whiskey option like bourbon or rye in any of the drinks. The choice of whiskey depends on your preference and taste.

The next similarity between both cocktails is that both use Angostura bitters. And above all both cocktails are stirred rather than shaken.

Whichever cocktail option you choose, both are classic, elegant, and ideal for every event. Then what makes them different? Keep reading the blog to know the difference between Manhattan Vs Old Fashioned cocktails.

Manhattan Vs Old Fashioned Cocktails

Despite having so many similarities, both manhattan and old-fashioned cocktails are different in various respects. Let’s know about the detailed comparison between Manhattan Vs Old Fashioned cocktails.

• Recipe

Manhattan and old-fashioned cocktails primarily differ on the basis of their recipes.

Recipe for manhattan cocktail: The manhattan cocktail is made using the ingredients listed below.

• 2 ounces whiskey preferably rye
• 1-ounce sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• Brandied cherry for garnish

Steps to make 

1  Take a glass full of ice and add rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters to it.

2  Stir all the ingredients until well chilled.

3  Strain the drink into a chilled coupe glass.

4  Use a brandied cherry for garnishing. 

Recipe for an old-fashioned cocktail: The old-fashioned cocktail contains the following ingredients.

• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon water
• 3 dashes of Angostura bitters
• 2 ounces of bourbon or rye whiskey
• Orange twist for garnishing

Steps to make 

• Take a mixing glass and add the sugar and bitters into it.
• Add water and stir all the ingredients until the sugar is dissolved.
• Add ice to the mixing glass and then add the whiskey.
• Stir the ingredients until well chilled.
• Strain the drink into an old-fashioned glass or rock glass over one large ice cube.
• Use an orange twist for garnishing.

• Sweetener Used

Another difference between Manhattan Vs Old Fashioned cocktails is the type of sweetener used in both drinks. The sweet taste in the old-fashioned is due to sugar used in either form of a cube or syrup. 

On the other side, manhattan includes sweet vermouth which is a kind of fortified wine. The vermouth adds a lot of flavors and spiced notes to manhattan. Compared to manhattan, old fashioned is a simple drink and lets whiskey shine.

Also Read: 7 Best Beer Cities in the US to Enjoy a Pint at!

• Type Of Whiskey

You can either use bourbon or rye whiskey to make any of the two cocktails. However, manhattan is generally made using rye whiskey while an old-fashioned is often made using bourbon whiskey.

• Serving Technique

This is another factor that differentiates Manhattan Vs Old Fashioned. Manhattan is mostly served in a coupe glass and is garnished with a brandied cherry. 

On the other side, the old-fashioned cocktails are served in a rock glass or an old-fashioned glass and garnished with an orange twist. So, visually also you can identify the type of drink.

Let’s Wrap Up

That’s all about Manhattan Vs Old Fashioned cocktails. Choose the drink as per your mood and taste. We hope you like the article. For more updates and information, stay connected with us.