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Cherry Manhattan

The cherry manhattan is a delightful twist on the classic cocktail and is as timeless as it is delicious! With only three simple ingredients — cherry bourbon, sweet vermouth, and a splash of bitters — you can create an elegant and complex drink.

Two martini glasses, one bowl shaped and one classic shaped filled with the Manhattan

The Manhattan was my mother’s favorite cocktail and it’s grown on me over the years. So much so, that it’s my cocktail of choice now.

The dirty martini used to be my favorite cocktail to order at restaurants. That changed when I realized I could get into trouble by having more than one martini, which I always tended to want.

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And now, with this variation of the classic cocktail, the delicious flavor has almost ruined my love for the taste of traditional Manhattan.

Almost.

Why? Because this recipe calls for homemade cherry bourbon, which enhances the classic Manhattan taste.

Add a few drops of spiced cherry bitters and you have one incredible cocktail.

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Helpful
Tips
  • If you don’t have cherry bitters, orange or aromatic bitters work just as well in this cocktail. A solid brand is angostura bitters.
  • I really like using a dropper when adding bitters because you can control the quantity better.
  • It is very easy to infuse bourbon with cherries. Check out my recipe here and get a batch going before cherry season is over.
  • Also, if you don’t have cherry bourbon, you can add 1 ounce of tart cherry juice.
  • I use Luxardo cherries for the garnish, but regular maraschino cherries work just as well. Be sure to wash the juice off them before adding them in the cocktail. You don’t want the extra sweetness.
  • You can either use the shaker, as I do for this cocktail or place your ingredients in a receptacle with ice and stir. I prefer the shaker.
Two martini glasses filled with the Manhattan with a cherry in the glass
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

How to make a cherry manhattan

Pre-step

Get a cocktail shaker, measuring glass and glassware.

Fill the shaker halfway with ice and after measuring out the ingredients, pour them into the shaker.

Step one

Gather the ingredients – cherry bourbon whiskey, sweet vermouth and spiced cherry bitters.

Also, take two maraschinos out of the jar of cherries, rinse the syrup off, and set aside for the garnish.

Cherry bourbon, sweet vermouth, cherry bitters and two cherries on a black table

Step two

Measure 4 ounces of cherry bourbon.

Cherry bourbon poured out with the bottle, cocktail shaker, cherries and glasses in the background

Step three

Measure 2 ounces sweet vermouth.

Sweet vermouth poured out with the bottle, half filled shaker, glasses and cherries in the background

Step four

Place as many drops as you like into the shaker. I like 10 which ends up being 5 drops per cocktail.

A hand holding a dropper filled halfway with cherry bitters over the cocktail shaker

Step five

Cap the shaker and shake for 15 seconds. Divide and strain the liquid between the two glasses.

Add as many cherries you want into each glass.

A further view of the bowl glass filed with the Manhattan with the classic glass behind it

Let’s look at the vertical view.

Vertical view of the classic martini glass filled with the Manhattan with the bowl glass behind it

Delicious!

I hope you liked this cherry Manhattan recipe. Hopefully, it doesn’t stop you from enjoying a plain bourbon Manhattan.

😉

And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOKTWITTERINSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

Bowl glass in front of the classic glass filled with the Manhattan

Cherry Manhattan

This deep and robust cherry infused bourbon is so delicious, it may ruin regular Manhattans forever.
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Cocktails
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bourbon manhattan, cherry infused drink, cherry manhattan
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2 Cocktails
Calories: 201kcal

Ingredients

Garnish

Instructions

  • Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
  • Add cherry bourbon, sweet vermouth and bitters.
    4 ounces cherry infused bourbon, 2 ounces sweet vermouth, 10 drops spiced cherry bitters
  • Cap shaker and shake for 15 seconds.
  • Divide and strain the liquid between the two glasses.
  • Add cherries to the cocktails.
    2 maraschino cherries
  • Sip
  • Smile
  • Enjoy
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Notes

Helpful tips
    • If you don’t have cherry bitters, orange or aromatic bitters work just as well in this cocktail. A solid brand is angostura bitters.
    • I really like using a dropper when adding bitters because you can control the quantity better.
    • It is very easy to infuse bourbon with cherries. Check out my recipe here and get a batch going before cherry season is over.
    • Also, if you don’t have cherry bourbon, you can add 1 ounce of tart cherry juice.
    • I use Luxardo cherries for the garnish, but regular maraschino cherries work just as well. Be sure to wash the juice off them before adding them in the cocktail. You don’t want the extra sweetness.
    • You can either use the shaker, as I do for this cocktail or place your ingredients in a receptacle with ice and stir. I prefer the shaker.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Cocktail | Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g
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From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.

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22 Comments

  1. wonderful!! I’ve just completed an article for a local publication on cocktail cherries…and had to celebrate with a Manhattan. The cherry infused bourbon sounds amazing!

  2. Made this over the weekend and it was delicious! I love recipes with cherries, especially in cocktails 🙂

  3. I certainly have NOT missed going to the bar. When you can make great cocktails like this at home. Perfect for sipping on the back deck.

  4. I am definitely going to make this tomorrow. I can enjoy this with my wife over dinner. Thanks for shaaring.

  5. I don’t normally use cherry bourbon in my Manhattans, but it really makes sense to do so. This is one of my hubby’s favorite cocktails, so I’m definitely going to give it a go for him.

    1. It’s so delicious. I just made another big batch of cherry bourbon so I can extend cherry season! I hope he enjoys it. Thank you Marta for your comment.

  6. Oh wow what a beautiful drink! Your photos are absolutely gorgeous!!! I’m always looking for new cocktails and this is something I know my friends will LOVE! Thank you so much for sharing!

  7. This is really such a chic drink. It sounds absolutely gorgeous and I’d love to sip on one this evening…a perfect way to kick off the weekend!

  8. What a pretty drink. I’d love to make it for Valentine’s Day. I’ve never had a Cherry Manhattan and since I do have the ingredients at our bar it will be perfect before dinner.

    1. Thank you Marisa. It has really taken over my before dinner drink. I’m going to be sad when my cherry bourbon runs out, though I’ll see if they still have cherries the next time I go to the store.

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