60 ml Rémy Martin VSOP (or 1738 Accord Royal for a richer, “Royal Manhattan” version)
30 ml quality sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters (add 1 dash orange bitters for a “Perfect Manhattan” vibe)
Ice: mixing-glass full of hard cubes
Garnish: brandied or maraschino cherry; slender orange or lemon twist optional
Bitter, Dry||
Cognac Manhattan
AN AROMATIC SHORT DRINK
New York’s quintessential Manhattan cocktail is usually a rye-whiskey icon, yet when you swap in French brandy – specifically Rémy Martin cognac – you create a silkier, fruit-and-oak expression that still hits every sweet-vermouth, Angostura-bitters dash your palate expects. Whether you choose the bright, dried-apricot lift of Rémy Martin VSOP or the deeper toffee-plum roundness of 1738 Accord Royal, this Franco-American riff keeps the classic’s Gotham backbone while adding a whisper of Grande and Petite Champagne elegance.
3 MIN medium Nick and Nora glassINGREDIENTS
2 oz Rémy Martin VSOP (or 1738 Accord Royal for a richer, “Royal Manhattan” version)
1 oz quality sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters (add 1 dash orange bitters for a “Perfect Manhattan” vibe)
Ice: mixing-glass full of hard cubes
Garnish: brandied or maraschino cherry; slender orange or lemon twist optional
6 cl Rémy Martin VSOP (or 1738 Accord Royal for a richer, “Royal Manhattan” version)
3 cl quality sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters (add 1 dash orange bitters for a “Perfect Manhattan” vibe)
Ice: mixing-glass full of hard cubes
Garnish: brandied or maraschino cherry; slender orange or lemon twist optional
HOW TO MAKE
a Cognac or Royal Manhattan
HOW TO MAKE
a Cognac or Royal Manhattan
- Chill a coupe or Nick-&-Nora cocktail glass.
- Combine cognac (Rémy Martin VSOP or Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal), vermouth and bitters in a mixing glass with ice, then stir 20–25 seconds until satin-cold.
- Strain into the chilled glass – no chips, no cloudiness.
- Garnish with a glossy cocktail cherry; express a citrus twist if you fancy extra aroma.
Discover more cocktails
Learn more about the Cognac Manhattan
This drink excels as a sophisticated apéritif before a steak-frites dinner, or as a velvet after-dinner sipper when bourbon feels too heavy. On crisp winter evenings in any city – Paris, New York or your living room – the balance of oaky fruit, vermouth herbs and bitter spice feels tailor-made for slow fireside reflection.
Base spirit matters: VSOP equals bright fruit & vanilla; 1738 Accord Royal supplies cocoa-toffee depth & extra viscosity.
Vermouth stewardship: pick a full-bodied, fresh bottle and refrigerate after opening.
Bitters blend: two dashes Angostura for backbone, plus a dash of orange bitters for a hint of marmalade; never skip them—they knit cognac and vermouth together.
Stir, don’t shake: you want clarity and a silky texture, not air bubbles.
The original Manhattan recipe surfaced in 1870s New York City, quickly becoming a benchmark among cocktail books. Bartenders later experimented with base-spirit twists – from rum to coffee liqueur – ushering in the “French Manhattan,” aka a brandy Manhattan. Today’s Rémy version nods to that lineage: an American classic re-imagined with Fine Champagne cognac, marrying Gotham swagger to French finesse.
Why Choose Rémy Martin for Your Manhattan
Rémy Martin’s Fine Champagne DNA supplies vanilla, candied-pear and liquorice aromas in Rémy Martin VSOP, or plum, fig-jam, butterscotch and toasted bread in Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal. Those flavors intertwine effortlessly with vermouth’s dark-red fruit and the clove-cinnamon punch of bitters, ensuring a drink that feels balanced, not cloying; silky, not thin.
Cognac Manhattan Variations & Comparisons
| Cocktail | Base Spirit | Modifier(s) | Bitters | Garnish | Flavor Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognac Manhattan | Rémy Martin VSOP / 1738 Accord Royal | Sweet vermouth | Angostura (+ orange) | Cherry | Fruity, oaked, elegant |
| Classic Manhattan | Rye or bourbon | Sweet vermouth | Angostura | Cherry | Spicy, robust |
| French Manhattan | Rémy Martin VSOP + orange liqueur | Dry vermouth | Orange bitters | Orange twist | Citrus-bright, lighter |
| Harvard Cocktail | Rémy Martin VSOP | Sweet vermouth + maraschino liqueur | Angostura | Lemon twist | Rich, subtly nutty |
Final Sip
Whether you prefer the clean fruit of VSOP or the hard-to-resist depth of 1738, this cognac-based Manhattan offers plenty to enjoy: lush orchard-fruit perfume, warming oak spice, and that signature cherry-vermouth sweetness that helped name the Manhattan one of the world’s favorite cocktails. Stir, strain, savour – and let French craftsmanship meet New York night-life in every chilled coupe.
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