Apple Cider Manhattan - Tasty Fall co*cktail Recipe! (2024)

Celebrate the flavors of fall with this lovely and delicious Apple Cider Manhattan! This fall co*cktail recipe is made with bourbon, sweet vermouth, apple cider, and maple syrup. It’s the perfect balance of seasonal flavors.

Apple Cider Manhattan

Shaking up new co*cktail recipes is among my favorite things to do. I’m always excited to add a new drink to my repertoire. My latest libation is this Apple Cider Manhattan!

(Just in case you’re wanting more fall co*cktail recipes, I created a post dedicated to my best autumn libations. You can find that HERE.)

If you’ve been reading IBC this past week, you probably remember me teasing you with this co*cktail recipe when I shared how I decorated my family room for fall! (You can see that space here if you missed it.) Well, I do my best to keep my promises, so today I’m back with the recipe.

I got the idea for this drink after sharing my Cider and Maple Old Fashioned. I’m a huge fan of anything made with apple cider, bourbon, and maple syrup. It’s such a tasty combination!

This recipe is similar to my Cider and Maple Old Fashioned, but a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned have a few important differences. Let me explain.

What’s the Difference Between a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned?

An Old Fashioned is made with whiskey (bourbon or rye), bitters, and sugar. Traditionally, an Old Fashioned is served on ice in a rocks glass.

A Manhattan is made with rye whiskey but uses sweet vermouth instead of sugar. It’s served in a coupe glass.

As I just mentioned, Manhattans are typically made with rye whiskey, so if you want authentic, opt for that. If you don’t have rye whiskey on hand, however, don’t stress. Bourbon will work equally well.

Now that you know the differences, let’s make an Apple Cider Manhattan!

How To Make An Apple Cider Manhattan:

Begin by gathering the ingredients. You will need:

• Rye whiskey (or bourbon)
• Sweet vermouth
• Apple cider
• Maple syrup
• Orange bitters
• Luxardo cherry

Next, fill a co*cktail shaker with ice. Then, add the bourbon, sweet vermouth, apple cider, maple syrup, and two dashes of orange bitters. (I’ve included detailed ingredient amounts and recipe instructions in the printable recipe card below.)

Shake vigorously.

Manhattans are typically served in coupe glasses, so that’s what I’m using. Mine are these gorgeous silver-rimmed ones. (I also have them in gold, and I love those, too… maybe more.)

Once the ingredients are well shaken, strain the co*cktail into a glass.

I like to garnish this co*cktail with a Luxardo maraschino cherry. Luxardo maraschino cherries are AMAZING. They are a bit pricey, but a jar of them will last a long time. (If you’re looking for them online, I buy this two-pack.)

I skewered the cherry onto a co*cktail pick. (Yes, it would have been ideal to have silver ones, but I only had gold so I made it work. I’m fine with mixed metals.)

And voila! This Apple Cider Manhattan is complete and ready to be enjoyed!

Looking for more fall co*cktails? Try these:

• Apple Cider Sidecar
• Maple Cranberry Bourbon co*cktail
• Pumpkin Old Fashioned
• Autumn Harvest Sangria
• Cranberry Bourbon co*cktail
• Harvest Apple Mule

The flavor combination is yummy and quintessentially fall. And can we also talk about how pretty this drink is? The color of the co*cktail shines through in the elegant glassware. Though, to be fair, I think anything would look beautiful in those glasses. And if you like this little scene above, be sure to check out this post HERE. I’m gave a full tour of my family room decorated for fall!

Cheers, friends!

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Apple Cider Manhattan Recipe