Aged White Manhattan

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Aging this delicious Manhattan cocktail in an oak barrel for a month develops its smooth, deep flavor.

Aged White Manhattan
Photo: © Lucas Allen
Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Yield:
1 liter

Ingredients

  • One 1-liter oak barrel (see Note)

  • 16 ounces unaged white whiskey, such as Trybox Series New Make

  • 16 ounces white vermouth, such as Dolin Blanc

  • 1/2 ounce orange bitters

  • Ice

  • Lemon twists, for serving

Directions

  1. If the barrel is new and dry inside, fill it with water and let stand until watertight, about 24 hours. Drain.

  2. Using a funnel, fill the barrel with all of the liquid ingredients. Let age, tasting a sample once a week, until the cocktail has taken on a rounded but not overly oaky flavor, about 1 month.

  3. Strain the cocktail through a coffee filter–lined funnel into a glass container and store indefinitely.

  4. To serve, pour 3 ounces into an ice-filled cocktail shaker and stir until chilled. Strain the drink into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist.

Notes

You can find 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-liter barrels at tuthilltown.com ($60 to $96). For barrels larger than 1 liter, multiply each aged cocktail recipe proportionately.

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