Shake up this Harvest Moon Manhattan for happy hour tonight! This wine-infused version of a Manhattan cocktail is sure to be a crowd pleaser!
We love making twists on classic cocktails like our Pumpkin Drop Martini or this fun and super tasty Apple Cider Mimosa!
A Wine-Infused Twist On A Manhattan Cocktail
Typically a Manhattan is made with whiskey or bourbon, sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters. We’ve switched up this classic cocktail with the use of red wine instead of sweet vermouth, and I think you’re going to love the flavor!
We always seem to have red wine in our house, for drinking, cooking and just because we love it. We don’t always have vermouth, as some of my family members can attest to…so we made a few adjustments to this drink recipe.
So this Harvest Moon Manhattan has taken its place in our kitchen. Strong, boozy but a slight sweet flavor, this drink is perfect for sipping on a cold night by a fire.
You can use your favorite red wine for this cocktail a dry red or a sweeter red will work. It’s really about the flavors that you like drinking!
What Kind Of Cherries Do You Use For This Drink Recipe?
Maraschino cherries are the obvious choice since they are readily available in most grocery stores. Another option are natural cherries like we used here.
You can find these cherries on Amazon, like everything else in the world, so there’s a link at the bottom of the post for you to check out. Also a lot of liquor stores carry cherries like these, often infused with bourbon or some other alcohol. They just taste SO much better.
But if maraschino cherries are all you have then by all means, use them!
Using orange slices would be more of an Old Fashioned cocktail garnish, but I say if you have them, use them. Orange slices would add great color to this drink recipe and if you’re making this Harvest Moon Manhattan for a party, garnish is key!
One of the best tips I can give you for making a really good cocktail is to make sure you shake it up really well in your cocktail shaker. The best is when you get a drink and there are those little pieces of ice floating around in there…
That’s a good cocktail if you ask me.
A properly chilled Manhattan is key, so this Harvest Moon Manhattan is no exception!
What Kind Of Whiskey or Bourbon Should I Use For This Drink?
Again, that’a all about personal preference. Try experimenting with a few different whiskey or bourbon brands by sipping them straight up or over an ice cube to see which flavor you like best.
Or maybe you have your favorite brand of whiskey or bourbon already – then you should definitely use that!
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Harvest Moon Manhattan
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeThis twist on a classic Manhattan cocktail uses red wine instead of sweet vermouth!
Ingredients
2 ounces bourbon or whiskey
1 ounce red wine
1/4 ounce cherry juice
Cherries for garnish
Instructions
Add the bourbon and wine and cherry juice to a shaker filled with ice.
Shake well and strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with fresh cherries and serve cold.
- Category: Cocktails
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: American
You didn’t mention if the cherry juice is actual cherry juice, or the juice from a jar of maraschino cherries (very different animals). I used the latter. However I discovered that the type of red wine you use changes everything. If you use a dry red wine like a cabernet (which is what I tend to have in the house), this cocktail cries out for more sweetness (and I’m not a fan of overly sweet drinks). In order to balance it, you will have to add a LOT more maraschino cherry juice – somewhere close to an ounce (as opposed to the 1/4 ounce mentioned in the recipe). However, if you use a sweet red wine, then cut the cherry juice down to advised proportions.