The Dry Manhattan swaps the sweet vermouth for dry. The result is paler in colour and drier on the palate — a more bracing, less rounded drink that leans hard on the whiskey and the bitters.
The Manhattan stripped of its sweetness — and, some would say, of its comfort.
Sweet, Dry, Perfect
The Manhattan family is defined by its vermouth. Sweet vermouth gives the standard drink; dry vermouth gives this one; an equal split of both gives the Perfect Manhattan. The Dry Manhattan is the most austere of the three, and the least forgiving of a tired bottle of vermouth.
Lemon, Not Cherry
A Dry Manhattan is finished with a lemon twist rather than a cherry. The cherry's sweetness belongs to the original; here, the bright citrus oil suits the drink's leaner profile and lifts the whiskey rather than padding it.
A Note on Proportion
Because dry vermouth is lighter-bodied than sweet, some bartenders pour a touch more of it; others hold the ratio and simply accept a sharper drink. Either is correct — the Dry Manhattan is meant to bite a little.
The Manhattan Family
The 1880s original — rye or bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters, stirred and served up.
- 2 ozRye whiskey
- 1 ozSweet vermouth
- 2 dashesAngostura bitters
Blended Scotch for the rye — a Manhattan with gentle malt sweetness and soft smoke.
- 2 ozBlended Scotch
- 1 ozSweet vermouth
- 2 dashesAngostura
Equal parts sweet and dry vermouth — the balanced middle path between the two.
- 2 ozRye whiskey
- 1/2 ozSweet vermouth
- 1/2 ozDry vermouth
The forgotten borough cocktail — a drier Manhattan with maraschino and Amer Picon.
- 2 ozRye whiskey
- 3/4 ozDry vermouth
- 1/4 ozAmer Picon