Top Manhattan Recipes from the Manhattan Experience

As BourbonBlog.com congratulates mixologist Joann Spiegel the winner of the “Master of the Manhattan” for the Woodford Reserve Well-Crafted Manhattan contest. We also share the winning Manhattan recipes from all the competing cities and entrants below who competed in the finals from from the 2011-2012 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Experience.

Leaving Manhattan
the final winning “Master of the Manhattan,” by Joann Spiegel from Manhattan, Mercury Bar West

2 oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon
1/2 oz. Punt e Mes Italian vermouth
1/4 oz. Lapsang Tea Syrup*
1/4 oz. Dark Creme de Cocoa
2 dashes Orange Bitters

Instructions:

– Combine ingredients over ice in shaker, stir and strain.

– Strain into martini glass and garnish with dark chocolate stick with orange spiral.

*Lapsang Tea Syrup – Use Lapsang tea bags and brew a strong cup of tea. Use the tea to make a simple syrup with equal parts tea and sugar

The Hothead Manhattan
by Christopher Asay, winner from Asbury Park, NJ

Woodford Reserve Bourbon
Jalapeño infused ginger syrup
Vermouth

– In heat resistant container ignite 3 oz Woodford Reserve with 1 ½ oz jalapeño infused ginger syrup and ¾ set vermouth.

– Also add ¾ oz high proof rum and 4 dashes bitters and ignite in 2nd heat resistant container.

– Add 3 oz boiling water. Pass solution back and forth w/ ignited water.

The Absinthe Minded Professor
James Potter, winner from Atlanta

2 oz Woodford Reserve
¾ oz Chai-infused sweet vermouth
¼ oz orange liqueur

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

The Mayan 212
Jessica Fesler, winner from Las Vegas

2 oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon
1 oz. Licor 43
2 dashes bitters infused w/ red chili pepper

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Chicago Sunday
Johnny Abens, winner from Chicago

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
¼ oz. maple syrup
4 dashes peach bitters
¼ oz. lemon juice

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Mixologist Joann Spiegel, winner of the “Well-Crafted Manhattan”, photo courtesy Woodford Reserve

Woodford Dey Manhattan
Michael Cerretani, winner from Denver

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
¼ oz. bitters
¼ oz. vermouth
¼ oz. yellow chartreuse build

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

The Big Orange
Matt McCullough, winner from Scottsdale, AZ

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
½ oz. Tuaca
½ oz. Orange liqueur
¼ oz. Madeira

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Blackened Cherry Manhattan
Erik Thompson, winner from Washington D.C.

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
1 oz. sweet vermouth
5 sprays cherry bitters

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

The Big Apple
John Miller, winner from Annapolis

2 oz. Maple infused Woodford Reserve
1 oz. cinnamon infused vermouth
2 dashes baked apple bitters

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Mr. October
Nick Nistico, winner from Miami

2 ½ oz. Woodford Reserve
1 oz. mandarin liqueur
1 oz. ginger syrup
½ oz. sweet vermouth
2 dashes bitters
2 dashes orange bitters

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Connecticut Shade Manhattan
Joe Raya, winner from Charleston, South Carolina

2 oz. tabasco infused Woodford Reserve
1 oz. vermouth
1 dash homemade Tabasco bitters

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Vintage Manhattan
Brien Hendershott, winner from Seattle

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
½ oz. sweet vermouth
½ oz. port vinegar reduction
3 dashes bitters

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Radiation Blues Manhattan
Colin Shearn, winner from Philadelphia

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
½ oz. Orange curaçao
½ oz. Italian bitters
3 dashes bitters

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Downtown Manhattan Downtown
Curtis Parker, winner from Indianapolis

2 ½ oz. Woodford Reserve
¼ oz. cherry syrup
1 orange rind
2 coffee beans
2 vanilla beans

Combine all, shake over ice, strain and serve.

Ramsey’s Manhattan
Karla Ramsey, winner from Louisville, KY

2 oz. Woodford Reserve
1 oz. apple brandy
1 oz. sweet vermouth
2 splashes bitters

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Buffalo Plains Manhattan
Rob Turek, winner from Ohio

1 ½ oz buffalo bacon fat washed Woodford Reserve
¾ oz black peppercorn infused vermouth
¼ oz elderflower liqueur
1 dash chocolate bitters

Combine all, stir over ice, strain and serve.

Special thanks to our team Matt Capucilli, Oresti Tsonopoulos, Alexandra Stewart and David Capucilli. All photos by Oresti Tsonopoulos unless noted.