I prefer my Manhattans served "Sweet", or "Perfect " at a push. The Manhattan is complex, challenging and moreish. Best of all, it's available in a style...
I make this with rittenhouse rye and martini rosso. 2:1 is perfect for me. And a generous splash of luxardo syrup goes in with the cherry. Together with the ango spice an orange zest this is a lovely cocktail for the colder and darker days.
I agree with the 2:1 ratio and the cherry syrup (I typically add about a barspoon). My favorite vermouth is Carpano Antico, and my favorite whiskey is Angel's Envy or Jameson Black Barrel, but to my taste these proportions work well with nearly any bourbon, rye, or Irish and nearly any red vermouth.
Ah yes, I see where I went wrong. It should have been: “ With a bold vermouth like antica *I* just need different ratios.” My preferences are not universal of course. I still consider myself quite new to this cocktail business and I love to read everyone’s personal experiences in the comments. There’s usually a wealth of information in there. I looked up your whiskey preferences and I must say especially the Angel’s Envy has got me intrigued. Not cheap but still within my price range where I live. Into my wish list it goes..
After finishing the martini rosso I bought a bottle of carpano antica and all of a sudden I didn’t enjoy this cocktail anymore. I started reading up on manhattan preferences online and somewhere I found the information that fixed my problem. With a bold vermouth like antica you just need different ratios. Now I do 2,5 shots rittenhouse rye to 1 shot carpano antica and I’m a happy girl again.