There’s a reason why the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan have been favorite cocktails for decades—they’re delicious. But while these two cocktails bear some very significant similarities, there are also plenty of differences that may make you come down on one side of the Old Fashioned vs. Manhattan debate.
Here’s how to tell the difference between a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned, so you can order (or mix it up yourself) accordingly.
Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is literally old fashioned—it comes to us from the 19th century. It’s a potent mix of bourbon, a sugar cube, water, and bitters, with an orange twist as a garnish.
To make an Old Fashioned, you muddle the sugar cube with water and bitters, then add ice and your rye whiskey or bourbon.
Like many other classics, you can also find fresh takes on the cocktail. (We’re kind of partial to a potent coffee Old Fashioned, which adds a touch of rum and Turkish coffee to the classic Old Fashioned ingredients.)
Manhattan
The Manhattan, just like the Old Fashioned, is another 19th century throwback cocktail, and some experts trace the cocktail back to New York’s Manhattan Club—while others place its origin in New York City, but at a bar called The Hoffman House. (Either way, the name of the cocktail fits its origins—and its sophisticated flavor.)
For a classic Manhattan, you’ll combine rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters, with a maraschino cherry garnish. Using a posh cocktail cherry like a Luxardo adds an extra note of flavor to your cocktail. (So go ahead and splurge!)
You’ll need a shaker to craft a Manhattan. Add all the ingredients but the cherry into an ice-filled shaker, give it a good shake, then pour the drink into a coupe glass and drop in a cherry for the perfect finish.
You can also make a twist on the Manhattan by swapping in bourbon in lieu of the rye whiskey—a change that’ll make the drink sweeter. Or try tweaking the other ingredients—like using a dry vermouth or a different flavor of bitters. If you really love the flavor of cherry, add in a little tart cherry juice, like this Cherry Manhattan recipe.
How to Choose a Manhattan vs. an Old Fashioned
Despite very similar flavor profiles, there are differences between the two that might make you more likely to choose one over the other.
If you like a sweeter drink, an Old Fashioned is probably your best bet, as it has a slightly sweeter flavor thanks to the pure sugar. (Though this definitely isn’t a strawberry daiquiri—it still has a sharp and bitter side.)
Thanks to the vermouth in it, a Manhattan will have wine-like flavors. (Vermouth is a fortified wine that has a hint of herbal flavors to it as well.)
If presentation is a factor in your choice of cocktails, the Old Fashioned is usually served in an old fashioned glass (AKA a rocks glass) and is served with ice. The Manhattan is traditionally served chilled (no ice, though!) in a sleek coupe glass.
One thing that both cocktails—and most simply classic cocktails—have in common is the need for high quality ingredients. When you only have a few ingredients in your drink, you need to make sure you choose the best so your drink can shine.
