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Woodford Reserve Bourbon BottleAs BourbonBlog.com congratulates mixologist Joann Spiegel the winner of the “Master of the Manhattan” for the Woodford Reserve Well-Crafted Manhattan contest. We also share the winning Manhattan recipes from all the competing cities and entrants below who competed in the finals from from the 2011-2012 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Experience.

Leaving Manhattan
the final winning “Master of the Manhattan,” by Joann Spiegel from Manhattan, Mercury Bar West

2 oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon
1/2 oz. Punt e Mes Italian vermouth
1/4 oz. Lapsang Tea Syrup*
1/4 oz. Dark Creme de Cocoa
2 dashes Orange Bitters

Instructions:

– Combine ingredients over ice in shaker, stir and strain.

– Strain into martini glass and garnish with dark chocolate stick with orange spiral.

*Lapsang Tea Syrup – Use Lapsang tea bags and brew a strong cup of tea. Use the tea to make a simple syrup with equal parts tea and sugar

The Hothead Manhattan
by Christopher Asay, winner from Asbury Park, NJ

Woodford Reserve Bourbon
Jalapeño infused ginger syrup
Vermouth

– In heat resistant container ignite 3 oz Woodford Reserve with 1 ½ oz jalapeño infused ginger syrup and ¾ set vermouth.

– Also add ¾ oz high proof rum and 4 dashes bitters and ignite in 2nd heat resistant container.


– Add 3 oz boiling water. Pass solution back and forth w/ ignited water.

The Absinthe Minded Professor
James Potter, winner from Atlanta

2 oz Woodford Reserve
¾ oz Chai-infused sweet vermouth
¼ oz orange liqueur

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

The Mayan 212
Jessica Fesler, winner from Las Vegas

2 oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon
1 oz. Licor 43
2 dashes bitters infused w/ red chili pepper

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Chicago Sunday
Johnny Abens, winner from Chicago

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
¼ oz. maple syrup
4 dashes peach bitters
¼ oz. lemon juice

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Mixologist Joann Spiegel, winner of the "Well-Crafted Manhattan"

Mixologist Joann Spiegel, winner of the “Well-Crafted Manhattan”, photo courtesy Woodford Reserve

Woodford Dey Manhattan
Michael Cerretani, winner from Denver

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
¼ oz. bitters
¼ oz. vermouth
¼ oz. yellow chartreuse build


Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

The Big Orange
Matt McCullough, winner from Scottsdale, AZ

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
½ oz. Tuaca
½ oz. Orange liqueur
¼ oz. Madeira


Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Blackened Cherry Manhattan
Erik Thompson, winner from Washington D.C.

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
1 oz. sweet vermouth
5 sprays cherry bitters


Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

The Big Apple
John Miller, winner from Annapolis

2 oz. Maple infused Woodford Reserve
1 oz. cinnamon infused vermouth
2 dashes baked apple bitters


Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Mr. October
Nick Nistico, winner from Miami

2 ½ oz. Woodford Reserve
1 oz. mandarin liqueur
1 oz. ginger syrup
½ oz. sweet vermouth
2 dashes bitters
2 dashes orange bitters


Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Connecticut Shade Manhattan
Joe Raya, winner from Charleston, South Carolina

2 oz. tabasco infused Woodford Reserve
1 oz. vermouth
1 dash homemade Tabasco bitters


Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Cocktail shaker mixology
Vintage Manhattan
Brien Hendershott, winner from Seattle

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
½ oz. sweet vermouth
½ oz. port vinegar reduction
3 dashes bitters


Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Radiation Blues Manhattan
Colin Shearn, winner from Philadelphia

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
½ oz. Orange curaçao
½ oz. Italian bitters
3 dashes bitters


Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Downtown Manhattan Downtown
Curtis Parker, winner from Indianapolis

2 ½ oz. Woodford Reserve
¼ oz. cherry syrup
1 orange rind
2 coffee beans
2 vanilla beans


Combine all, shake over ice, strain and serve.

Ramsey’s Manhattan
Karla Ramsey, winner from Louisville, KY

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
1 oz. apple brandy
1 oz. sweet vermouth
2 splashes bitters


Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Buffalo Plains Manhattan
Rob Turek, winner from Ohio

1 ½ oz buffalo bacon fat washed Woodford Reserve
¾ oz black peppercorn infused vermouth
¼ oz elderflower liqueur
1 dash chocolate bitters


Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Making cocktails

Special thanks to our team Matt Capucilli, Oresti Tsonopoulos, Alexandra Stewart and David Capucilli. All photos by Oresti Tsonopoulos unless noted.

 

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3 Responses to “Top Manhattan Recipes from the Manhattan Experience”

  1. Mike Morgan

    I’m just an old fashion whisky drinker and retired Barkeep and I just dearly love the taste of Bourbon___SOOO my Manhattan recipe is very simple. My favorite way to enjoy my whisky is with a bourbon ball (just ice in a round ice tray)or with a splash or 2 of water but I will have a Manhattan from time to time or mix them for company. The more complex the Manhattan receipe is, the less you taste the Bourbon!! Makes sense to me.

    3 OZ Prem Bourbon (I use Makers, Knob Creek or Gentleman Jack)
    1/2 OZ Sweet Vermouth
    Teaspoon of M. Cherry Juice
    Dash or two of bitters
    Shake over ice (get it good and cold)

  2. ALEX

    Unfortunately with the bad headache that I have every day I cannot enjoy any drink but as soon as I recover I will have a lot of drinks of bourbon and I will let you know how I enjoy them.

  3. Les Sayetta

    An important part of my Manhattan is the muddled and whole cherries at the bottom of the glass. I also prefer the Evan Williams single barrel bourbon as the base whiskey for the drink.