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Old Fashioned vs Manhattan
Whisky, sugar and bitters versus whisky, vermouth and bitters.
Which should you make?
The Old Fashioned is a whisky drink with sugar in it; the Manhattan is a whisky drink with wine in it. That is the real difference — vermouth adds acidity and a herbal lift that sugar cannot, which is why the Manhattan tastes more composed and the Old Fashioned tastes more like the bottle. New to whisky? Start with the Manhattan.
| Attribute |  Old Fashioned |  Manhattan |
|---|---|---|
| In a word | dry, soft, light — a spirit and sugar drink served over ice. | off-dry, soft, light — a spirit and modifier drink served straight up, no ice. |
| Structure | Spirit and sugar | Spirit and modifier |
| Family | Old Fashioned | Manhattan |
| Smells of | Citrus peel, Vanilla | Baking spice, Fresh herb |
| Technique | StirringA heavy, silky, completely clear drink. Alcohol reads more sharply than in the same drink shaken, because nothing has softened it. | StirringA heavy, silky, completely clear drink. Alcohol reads more sharply than in the same drink shaken, because nothing has softened it. |
| Base spirit | whisky | whisky |
| Strength | strong | strong |
| ABV | 32% | 30% |
| Calories | 154 kcal | 175 kcal |
| Sweetness | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Sourness | 0/5 | 0/5 |
| Bitterness | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Prep time | 5 min | 5 min |
| Difficulty | medium | medium |
| Equipment | Mixing glass, Bar spoon, Jigger | Mixing glass, Bar spoon, Jigger, Hawthorne strainer |
| Occasions | nightcap, dinner, everyday | nightcap, dinner, celebration |
| Alcohol-free option | No | No |
Choose the Old Fashioned if you'd rather keep the calories down and you prefer a drier, less sweet drink.
Choose the Manhattan if you prefer a sweeter drink.
Can you make both?
Both need: Angostura bitters.
- Only the Old Fashioned
- Bourbon or rye whisky, Sugar cube
- Only the Manhattan
- Rye whisky, Sweet vermouth
What actually separates them
Nothing large enough to call a difference — these two are close relatives, and the choice is down to which bottle is open.
Effectively identical on: sourness, strength.