The Manhattan has been a staple cocktail for over a century. As might be expected for a beverage with such a long tenure, it’s come in and out of fashion. While the vodka martini craze of the 1990’s and 2000’s may have pushed the lesser-ordered whiskey cocktail out of the limelight, we think it’s time for a fresh appreciation of this classic cocktail. The Manhattan should be an easy transition for anyone used to a “tini”, since they are best served chilled and strained into a cocktail glass. For the dyed-in-the-wool whiskey drinker, the move to a stemmed glass may come less naturally, but we highly recommend restraining the urge to pour your Manhattan into a rocks glass. A perfectly chilled Manhattan will release complex aromas of sweet and herbal vermouth and whiskey, and you need a stemmed glass to fully appreciate the effect.

While many a traditional Manhattan recipe will call for Rye, we fell in love with Manhattan’s made with our Lost Horse Whiskey. Lost Horse is a blend of bourbon, single malt barley, and rye. The final balanced and dynamic blend pairs perfectly with a good, sweet vermouth and bitters. We find that Lost Horse Whiskey gives body and amplification to the herbs and botanicals in the vermouth and bitters, while meeting the moment for what is fundamentally a cocktail on the sweet side.

Lost Horse Whiskey is produced by Joshua Tree Distilling Company just outside Joshua Tree National Park in the Southern California desert. The first indication that a distillery was coming to the area was a hand-painted sign that read “Here to Raise your Spirits” (a cagey pun by our founder). With marching orders in hand, we set out to create exceptional products and elevated cocktail experiences. We believe that a Lost Horse Manhattan can lift even the heaviest spirits, but if the cocktail doesn’t, knowing that 1% of sales are donated to the Joshua Tree National Park Association, should.