Midnight Velvet Manhattan
A rich, smooth Manhattan variation featuring a hint of dark cherry and a velvet finish for a sophisticated evening drink. This recipe, ready in about 6 minutes, brings together rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 210 calories and feeds 1, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 0.25 oz maraschino liqueur
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 luxardo cherry
- 1 strip orange peel
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Fill a mixing glass with large ice cubes to chill properly. Pour in 2 oz rye whiskey, 1 oz sweet vermouth, 0.25 oz maraschino liqueur, and 2 dashes Angostura bitters.
- Step 2: Stir gently with a bar spoon for 30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted.
- Step 3: Strain into a chilled coupe glass to remove any ice shards.
- Step 4: Express the orange peel over the glass to release its oils, then rim the glass with it before discarding.
- Step 5: Garnish by dropping a single luxardo cherry into the center of the drink.
