How to drink

The Oakside Manhattan is a bourbon-forward Manhattan, with two parts bourbon, 1/2 part sweet vermouth, and 1/2 part Italian aperitivo, along with small batch orange bitters. The aperitivo adds just a touch of depth and bitterness to provide a more modern edge to the cocktail and partially likens it to a Black Manhattan.

• Manhattans can be served “up” in a coupe glass without ice or served down in a rocks glass over ice. If you want to serve your Manhattan up, we recommend chilling the bottle in the fridge before pouring.
• The most classic garnish for a Manhattan is a maraschino cherry. If you're looking for a couple solid brands, check out our Michigan favorite at the Traverse City Whiskey Co., and you can never go wrong with Luxardo. If you like your Manhattan a touch sweeter, add a teaspoon of the maraschino syrup along with the cherry.
• You might also try an orange twist with your Manhattan. You can take any paring knife and cut just a thin slice (maybe a half-inch wide) of orange peel, avoiding any flesh of the orange. Rub the interior of the peel around the edge of your glass to get citrus notes with every sip.