Making a Traditional Brandy Manhattan
Add ice cubes to a martini shaker. No one wants a warm Manhattan, so get some ice to cool yourself on a sunny day.
Add 2 fl oz (59 mL) of brandy and 1 fl oz (30 mL) of sweet vermouth. These are the main ingredients that will give you that great flavor. Vermouth is fortified wine flavored with herbs and spices. For a "perfect" brandy Manhattan, use ⁄2 fl oz (15 mL) of dry vermouth and ⁄2 fl oz (15 mL) of sweet vermouth instead.
Stir your drink. Avoid shaking the mixture as it will result in a cloudy cocktail.
Put 2-3 dashes of bitters into a martini glass. You might want to chill the glass by placing it in the freezer for 3-4 hours. Then, to coat the glass, swirl the bitters around.
Strain the shaker into the martini glass. This is your chance to get rid of the ice cubes that could dilute your drink and take away the buzz. You can put a mesh strainer over the glass to catch the ice.
Add a garnish. No fancy drink is complete without a topping! A maraschino cherry will pair nicely with this drink, but if you're looking for a citrus kick, try an orange twist.
Making a Dry Brandy Manhattan
Put some ice in a glass. Fill your glass up about halfway with some ice cubes to create a cool beverage. Alternatively, you could chill the glass in the freezer beforehand so the ice cubes don't dilute your drink if they melt.
Add 1 ⁄2 fl oz (44 mL) of brandy and 0.2 fl oz (5.9 mL) of dry vermouth. The less dry vermouth you use, the drier the drink is. This differs from a "perfect" Manhattan which uses equal amounts of dry and sweet vermouth. Dry vermouth is more herbaceous and less spicy than sweet vermouth.
Stir the drink. It's better to stir than shake the liquid, as shaking it makes for a cloudy cocktail. Stirring also gives you a chance to distribute the ice so the drink is evenly chilled throughout.
Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass. To keep your cocktail cold, stick a martini glass in the freezer a few hours before you intend to enjoy this cocktail. Then, grab it from the freezer and pour the liquid through a mesh strainer into the glass.
Add a garnish. A fruity topping would work, but if you want something salty with a Mediterranean flair, try an olive or 2! Savor the olives! They soak up the vermouth, giving them a unique taste.
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