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Vermilion Manhattan

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (46)
Vermilion Manhattan image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 2⁄3 fl oz Straight rye whiskey (100 proof /50% alc./vol.)
3⁄4 fl oz Bittersweet orange-red aperitivo
1⁄4 fl oz Italian red bitter liqueur
2 dash Peychaud's or other Creole-style bitters

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

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How to make

Glass

Photographed in an UB Koto Old Fashioned 30cl

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.
  2. Orange zest twist (discarded) & orange slice wheel

Method

  1. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  2. STRAIN into ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS orange zest twist over cocktail and discard.
  2. Garnish with orange slice.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Vermilion Manhattan contains 181 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.7 standard drinks
  • 28.91% alc./vol. (57.81° proof)
  • 23.3 grams of pure alcohol

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

Named after its colour (in February 2025) by yours truly after adapting a recipe by J. E. Clapham of Clapham Cocktails. Mr Clapham's original recipe: 60ml (2oz) Sazerac Rye or similar, 30ml (1oz) Select Aperitivo and 2-3 dashes Peychaud's Bitters, stirred and strained into an old-fashioned glass over big ice with two lemon twists, the first one being discarded.

More cocktails by J. E. Clapham of Clapham Cocktails

Review

This bittersweet red-orange cocktail has notes of Boulevardier about it and moves the Manhattan from being a late-night cocktail back to the aperitivo moment.

AKA: Select Manhattan

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$1.01 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 33 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


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Gallery

Comments & Discussion

Nathan Korff
Love the creole bitters in this, taste only improved with slight dilution of large ice cube.
score: 1
Andy Parnell-Hopkinson
I just concocted something like this, being in a poorly stocked airport departure lounge - only discovered Mr Clapham's version through curiosity. Surprisingly good, especially for the time and place.
score: 1
Chris Brislawn
I could have used Aperol for the orange-red aperitivo but had a bottle of Ramazzotti Aperitivo Rosato so used that instead, with excellent results. The hibiscus and orange blossom notes in the Rosato worked perfectly with this drink.
score: 2
John CARR Premium Member
Did a side by side comparison of Jason’s and Simon’s versions and (surprise surprise) loved the way Simon’s version brought out the best in the ingredients, especially the Campari bringing depth to the rye and peychauds. Genius at work.
score: 1
John CARR Premium Member
Bit of a melange, tho certainly a tasty one. Saze-vadier, anyone? Was planning to follow mr Clapham’s recipe, but ran short of select (!), so had to make up the difference with 7.5ml each of Cocchi Rosa, Luxardo bitter bianco, and some Gustav Finnish lingonberry liqueur (fruity and sweet). Bitter Truth creole bitters. I was not displeased with the result! Stuck with Jason’s Extra lemon Twist garnish.
score: 1
Chris Brislawn
Finnish Lingonberry liqueur?! Bit of a melange, indeed! Are you sure you made *this* drink? ;-)
score: 2
John CARR Premium Member
Haha yes it’s super fruity sweet - matching the intense sweetness of Campari without the bitterness, hence addition of other bittering ingredients. I’m a member of the local Scandinavian association and there’s a scandi booze dealer who gets in some very nice and unusual bottles!
score: 1
John CARR Premium Member
A ‘Helsinki’, maybe?
score: 1
John CARR Premium Member
Retried following exact spec and I think I prefer my mash up tbh! It’s an interesting Heston Blumenthal exercise in looking like a negroni but with the massive rye (Rittenhouse) after kick of a rye Manhattan. On the whole I think I’d go with either of those more traditional iterations.
score: 1

View 4 comments and discussion

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Difford’s Shop logo
$1.01 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 33 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

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