New York is often considered the cocktail capital of the world, and two iconic cocktails that are very popular are a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned. Both are whiskey based cocktails, so what is the difference between Manhattan vs. Old Fashioned? A Manhattan is usually made with rye, which gives it s spicier flavor profile, while the Old Fashioned is usually bourbon based, which gives it a sweeter, smoother taste. While both drinks are easy to order when you are out, they are actually quite simple to make at home, and are always very popular when I have parties at home.
As a New Yorker, it really is quite fun to have a Manhattan in Manhattan!
In this article I explore the differences between an Old Fashioned vs Manhattan, and how these can be made at home, including some popular variations to both drinks.
Table of Contents
What’s the difference between an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan?
Lets take a closer look at the difference is between a Manhattan vs. Old Fashioned as they are both whiskey-based cocktails, but they have very distinct flavor profiles. Here are 4 of their major differences –
- Type of whiskey: For one, the Manhattan is usually made with rye, while the Old Fashioned is usually bourbon based. The use of rye whiskey in the Manhattan gives it a spicier flavor profile, while the use of bourbon in the Old Fashioned adds a sweeter, smoother taste.
- Sweetener: The Old Fashioned is sweetened with sugar, either as a cube or as simple syrup, whereas the Manhattan has sweet vermouth, a type of fortified wine. The Old Fashioned is a sweeter cocktail that is balanced by the bitterness of the bitters. The sugar or simple syrup used in the Old Fashioned adds a sweetness that is not present in the Manhattan. The Manhattan, on the other hand, is a dry cocktail that is made with sweet vermouth, which adds a subtle sweetness to the drink. The use of vermouth in the Manhattan also gives it a more complex flavor profile.
- Garnish: Another big difference between Manhattan and Old Fashioned is the garnish – the Old Fashioned must have an orange peel, which most bartenders rub along the rim of the glass before putting it in the drink, while a Manhattan has a cherry flavor, with a branded cherry being added to it as the garnish.
- Type of Glass: Last, but certainly not least, is the type of glass in which both drinks are served. The Old Fashioned is traditionally served in an Old Fashioned glass, which is a short, squat glass with a wide rim and heavy base. An Old Fashioned is typically served over ice and garnished with a slice of orange and a cherry. Meanwhile, the Manhattan is served up in a martini-style glass or cocktail glass, without ice, and is typically garnished with a cherry.
History and Origin
The Old Fashioned cocktail is believed to be the original cocktail, first being in 1862 in Jerry Thomas’ Bartenders Guide. It consisted of whiskey, sugar (gum syrup), bitters, and ice. The recipe has evolved over the years, and today the most common recipe for an Old Fashioned includes bourbon, bitters, sugar, and a twist of citrus peel.
The Manhattan is believed to have originated at the Manhattan Club in New York City for a banquet hosted by Lady Randolph Churchill, Winston Churchill’s mother. The original recipe called for rye whiskey, Italian vermouth, and a dash of bitters. Over time, variations of the original recipe have emerged, including the use of bourbon whiskey and different types of vermouth.
Old Fashioned vs Manhattan Drink Recipe
Both cocktails are very easy to make once you have the ingredients and the right glass to serve them in.
Old Fashioned Cocktail Ingredients and Recipe
To make an Old Fashioned, you will need:
- 2 oz bourbon (or rye whiskey)
- 1 sugar cube or 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 1 orange peel (for garnish)
To prepare an Old Fashioned, place the sugar cube (or simple syrup) in a rocks glass and add the bitters. Muddle until the sugar is dissolved. Add the whiskey and stir. Add ice and stir again. Garnish with an orange peel.
Manhattan Cocktail Ingredients and Recipe
To make a Manhattan, you will need:
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 1 maraschino cherry (for garnish)
To prepare a Manhattan, fill a mixing glass with ice. Add the whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Stir until well chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Cocktail Variations
As is the case with all recipes, you can get creative and make variations to both cocktails. For instance, my new go to drink is actually a mezcal old fashioned as I like the smoky flavor the mezcal adds to the drink. Read on for some common variations that have names of their own, or options for ingredients you can switch up to make the perfect drink for your tastes.
Manhattan Cocktail Variations
There can be many Manhattan drink variations, such adding a splash of cherry juice for a sweeter Manhattan. Some of the others have evolved to become relatively well known, such as the ones below .
Perfect Manhattan
A Perfect Manhattan is made with equal parts sweet and dry vermouth, which you can replace in the recipe above. So you would add 1 oz sweet vermouth and 1 oz dry vermouth for a Perfect Manhattan.
Rob Roy
A Rob Roy is made with Scotch instead of rye whiskey.
Black Manhattan
A Black Manhattan is made with Averna or another amaro instead of sweet vermouth.
Old Fashioned Cocktail Variations
My favorite to an Old Fashioned is to substitute the whiskey with mezcal, which is both easy to make and to order when you are out.
Some of the other variations can be to substitute the sugar with honey syrup or maple syrup for a sweeter taste.
You can also muddle a slice of orange and a cherry with the sugar and bitters for added flavor.
Here are some Old Fashioned drink variations that you can try –
Bourbon Old Fashioned
To make a Bourbon Old Fashioned, you will need the following ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 sugar cube or 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 1 orange peel (for garnish)
To prepare an Old Fashioned, place the sugar cube (or simple syrup) in a rocks glass and add the bitters. Muddle until the sugar is dissolved. Add the bourbon and stir. Add ice and stir again. Garnish the Bourbon Old Fashioned with an orange peel.
Brandy Old Fashioned
A Brandy Old Fashioned, which is also known as a Wisconsin Old Fashioned, is made with brandy instead of whiskey and topped with soda water.
For this, the ingredients will be –
- 2 oz brandy
- 1 sugar cube or 1 tsp simple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Club soda
- 1 orange slice
- 1 Maraschino cherry
To make the drink, In an Old Fashioned glass, muddle the sugar cube or simple syrup with the Angostura bitters until the sugar is dissolved. Add a splash of club soda to the glass and fill it with ice. Pour in the brandy and stir well. Garnish with an orange slice and a Maraschino cherry.
Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet
If you are looking for a sweet Brandy Old Fashioned, you can use a 7 Up or Sprite instead of the club soda to make it sweeter. For this, the ingredients will be –
- 2 oz brandy
- 1 sugar cube or 1 tsp simple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 orange slice
- 1 Maraschino cherry
- 7-Up or Sprite
To make this drink, in an Old Fashioned glass, muddle the sugar cube or simple syrup with the Angostura bitters until the sugar is dissolved. Fill the glass with ice. Pour in the brandy and stir well. Top off the glass with 7-Up or Sprite. Garnish with an orange slice and a Maraschino cherry.
Blood Orange Old Fashioned
A Blood Orange Old Fashioned is a very popular variation to the cocktail, especially when Blood Oranges are in season. The ingredients for this are –
- 2 oz bourbon (or rye whiskey)
- 1 oz blood orange juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Blood orange slice for garnish
To make this drink, in a mixing glass, combine the bourbon (or rye whiskey), blood orange juice, simple syrup, and Angostura bitters. Stir the mixture until well combined. Fill an Old Fashioned glass with ice. Strain the cocktail over the ice in the Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a slice of blood orange.
Mezcal Old Fashioned
For a variation on this classic cocktail, try a Mezcal Od Fashioned, which has become one of my favorite go to drinks.
The ingredients for this are –
- 2 oz mezcal
- 1/2 oz agave nectar
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel for garnish
To make the drink. in a mixing glass, combine the mezcal, agave nectar, and Angostura bitters. Stir the mixture until well combined. Fill an Old Fashioned glass with ice. Strain the cocktail over the ice in the Old Fashioned glass. Express the oils from an orange peel over the drink, then garnish with the peel.
Anejo Old Fashioned or Tequila Old Fashioned
An Anejo Old Fashioned is a very popular variation of the classic cocktail made by substituting the whiskey for tequila.
The ingredients for the Anejo Old Fashioned cocktail are –
- 2 oz Anejo tequila
- 1/4 oz agave nectar
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel for garnish
To make this drink, in a mixing glass, combine the Anejo tequila, agave nectar, and Angostura bitters. Stir the mixture until well combined. Fill an Old Fashioned glass with ice. Strain the cocktail over the ice in the Old Fashioned glass. Express the oils from an orange peel over the drink, then garnish with the peel.
Rum Old Fashioned
To make a Rum Old Fashioned, you can substitute the whiskey with a dark rum.
Fruit Old Fashioned:
For a fruit old fashioned, you can muddle a slice of orange and a cherry along with the sugar and bitters.
Smoked Old Fashioned
For a smoky flavor, smoke the glass with a smoking gun before adding the ingredients to any of the variations above.
Closing Thoughts
While Manhattan and Old Fashioned are both whiskey based cocktails, it is easy to see that they can be modified and personalized to suit your taste buds if you are looking for a whiskey based cocktail. I hope you have fun trying some – or even all – of the variations in this article. Cheers!
