Step 1: Chill Your Glass

Begin by chilling your cocktail glass. A coupe or a lowball glass works best for this cocktail. Fill it with ice water and set aside while you mix the drink.

Step 2: Prepare Your Mixing Glass

Fill a mixing glass about two-thirds full with fresh ice. This will help chill the ingredients properly without over-diluting them.

Step 3: Add the Whiskey

Pour 2 oz of bourbon or rye whiskey into the mixing glass. This forms the strong base of your Manhattan and sets the tone for the cocktail’s flavor profile.

Step 4: Add Sweet Vermouth

Add 1 oz of sweet vermouth. This balances the heat of the whiskey with smooth herbal complexity. Ensure it’s fresh and stored properly, as old vermouth can spoil the cocktail.

Step 5: Add Root Beer Flavor

Next, pour in 1/2 oz of root beer liqueur or a splash of concentrated, high-quality root beer syrup. This is the ingredient that transforms the drink from traditional to inspired. Be careful not to overdo it—root beer should complement, not dominate.

Step 6: Add Bitters

Drop in 2 dashes of Angostura bitters. This staple of Manhattan cocktails is crucial—it adds clove, cinnamon, and cardamom-like notes that enhance both whiskey and root beer flavors.

Step 7: Stir

Using a bar spoon, stir the mixture for about 20–30 seconds. This chills and dilutes the cocktail slightly, mellowing the edges while integrating the ingredients.

Step 8: Strain

Dump the ice water from your cocktail glass and strain the cocktail into the now-chilled glass using a Hawthorne or julep strainer.

Step 9: Garnish

Finish the presentation with a Luxardo cherry or high-quality maraschino cherry dropped gently into the glass or skewered on a cocktail pick for an elegant touch.