The difference between an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan: These two classic cocktails, explained

Learning the universe of cocktails can be an undertaking, and there is an entire raft of classic whiskey-based cocktails that you might like to try. But the sheer variety can be overwhelming when you’re new to the world, so we won’t fault you for not knowing the difference between an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan.

This is because these two drinks, on the surface, seem very similar. Both are made with whiskey and have some of the same ingredients, but they are surprisingly different in flavor and appearance.

What’s in each drink?

When it comes to iconic drinks, the only cocktail that even comes close to the popularity of the classic Old Fashioned is the Manhattan. A favorite of bartenders and drinkers alike, the Old Fashioned is made simply with bourbon or rye whiskey, a sugar cube, Angostura bitters, and water. That’s it. The Manhattan, on the other hand, is made with rye, Canadian or bourbon whiskey, sweet red vermouth, and Angostura bitters.

On the surface, the drinks seem very similar. They’re very boozy, whiskey-driven drinks without a lot of ingredients to get in the way. But while seemingly subtle, the differences are enormous.

How are they different?

Both drinks are made with whiskey. While you can make the Old Fashioned with rye whiskey to give it a peppery kick, many drinkers prefer the drink’s base to be the sweet corn flavor of bourbon. The Manhattan is most often made with rye whiskey, giving it a spicier flavor profile.

Another difference between the two is the ingredient designed to be a sweetener. The Old Fashioned leans into the sweetness of the bourbon with muddled sugar (or simple syrup if you go that route). The Manhattan gets its extra sweetness from the use of sweet red vermouth. This adds a spiced, herbal, rich flavor to the drink.

Also, these two drinks are served in very different glasses. The Old Fashioned is served in the classic Old Fashioned glass, and the Manhattan is served in a martini, cocktail, or coupe glass.

How are they the same?

Even with potentially different whiskeys, these drinks are similar because both have a whiskey base. This means that barrel-aged flavors like caramel, vanilla, oak, and spices will be found in both. Also, while both drinks have different sweeteners, they both have a critical ingredient in common. They both use bitters, specifically Angostura bitters.

What are bitters?

The one thing that brings both of these classic cocktails together is the use of a few dashes of Angostura bitters. If you’ve ever taken a look at the cocktail menu at your favorite bar and you’ve spent time looking at the ingredients in the mixed drinks, you’ve likely seen the term “bitters.” There’s also a chance that even though you see the word often, you might not even know what bitters are. That’s okay. We’re here to help.

In the most basic terms, cocktail bitters are highly concentrated tinctures featuring various flavors, herbs, roots, botanicals, and spices. Many bartenders referred to cocktail bitters as the salt and pepper of the mixology world. These flavor-packed ingredients are used in small amounts to round out the flavor profile. Oh yeah, they also contain alcohol as well. And not just a little alcohol; they typically have between 35% and 45% ABV.

Why Angostura bitters?

As we mentioned before, cocktail bitters are the one ingredient (besides whiskey) that ties these two iconic drinks together. If you want to get into specifics (and we do), the bitters used in this cocktail (except for when bartenders put their own spin on it by using other bitters and ingredients) are Angostura bitters.
Made by the House of Angostura in Trinidad and Tobago, Angostura bitters don’t contain any Angostura bark. These bitters got their name because they were originally produced in the town of Angostura in Venezuela.

Although the official recipe is secret, these bitters are made with various herbs, spices, botanicals, and gentian. While often used as an ingredient in cocktails (like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan), if you were to taste Angostura bitters on their own, you’d find them to be spicy and bitters with hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and other spices.

Picking the suitable spirit base

The most fun thing about home bartending is that you can put your spin on your favorite cocktail. While the official recipe for the Old Fashioned calls for bourbon or rye, you can make it with anything you want. Single malt Scotch whisky makes for a unique Old Fashioned, as does mezcal, dark rum, or añejo tequila.

Whiskey purists will say that you can’t make a Manhattan with anything but a rye whiskey, but if you have Canadian whisky, Irish whiskey, or any other whiskey on hand, give it a try.

Variations to try

If you’re a fan of either or both of these drinks, there are also lots of variations on them that you can try. These variations keep the same basic build of the cocktails, but swap in and out ingredients for a different take that emphasizes different flavors or qualities within the original.

The Manhattan, for example, has a popular variation called the Black Manhattan. This uses the amaro Averna in place of the sweet vermouth. Like sweet vermouth, Averna has both sweet and herbal qualities, but it has more bitterness so it produces a darker, moodier version of the drink that’s perfect for fall.

Or, if you love the smokey qualities of Scotch whisky, there’s a variation called the Rob Roy that calls for Scotch instead of bourbon or rye. You can even stay within the Manhattan ingredients and try changing the ratio of ingredients: A sweet Manhattan, for example, uses more sweet vermouth than the classic version, and the Perfect Manhattan uses a combination of sweet and dry vermouths.

As for the Old Fashioned, this is a template that will work for practically any spirit, so as well as the classic whiskey Old Fashioned, you’ll find Old Fashioneds made with rum, mezcal, tequila, Scotch, and more. Some people like to add cognac or brandy or to add a dash of honey syrup in place of the sugar. And of course, there are endless types of bitters out there that you can experiment with, from the floral lavender bitters to the vegetal celery bitters, each of which matches a different spirit.