The Manhattan Cocktail: A Modern Guide to the Whiskey Classic

by Albert W.A. Schmid

Overview

History, lore, and over fifty recipes in a “compulsively readable book about a classic American cocktail” (Susan Reigler, author of Kentucky Bourbon Country).

Alongside such classics as the Old Fashioned, Mint Julep, and Martini, the Manhattan has been a staple of the sophisticated bar scene since the nineteenth century. Never out of style, this iconic drink has seen a renaissance in the craft cocktail movement, with a boost from TV's Mad Men. In theory, the recipe is simple: a mixture of whiskey, vermouth, and bitters stirred with ice, strained, and presented in a cocktail glass garnished with a cherry. But the exact ingredients and proportions—as well as the drink’s true origins—inspire great debate.

In this guide, Albert W. A. Schmid dispels myths, including the tale that the Manhattan was created in 1874 by bartenders at New York City's Manhattan Club to honor the newly elected Governor Tilden at Lady Randolph Churchill’s request. Schmid also explores places and people that have contributed to the drink’s popularity and inspired its lore, including J. P. Morgan, who enjoyed a Manhattan every day at the end of trading on Wall Street.

The Manhattan Cocktail also examines the effects of various bourbons and whiskeys on the aroma and flavor, even answering the age-old question of “shaken or stirred?” With over fifty recipes as well as notes and anecdotes from personalities ranging from renowned mixologist Dale DeGroff to writer Sir Kingsley Amis, it will delight both the cocktail novice and the seasoned connoisseur.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813165905
Publisher:	University Press of Kentucky
Publication date:	06/29/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	80
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Albert W. A. Schmid is chef and instructor at Keiser University. He is the former director of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management at Guilford Technical Community College, and is the former director of the Hotel-Restaurant Management and Hospitality Management Departments at Sullivan University’s National Center for Hospitality Studies. He is the author of The Old Fashioned: An Essential Guide to the Original Whiskey Cocktail, The Manhattan Cocktail: A Modern Guide to the Whiskey Classic, the award-winning The Kentucky Bourbon Cookbook, and the award-winning The Beverage Manager’s Guide to Wines, Beers and Spirits.

Editorial Reviews

"Albert Schmid has once again written a slender, yet scholarly, erudite, and compulsively readable book about a classic American cocktail." — Susan Reigler, author of Kentucky Bourbon Country, coauthor of The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book, and president of the Bourbon Women Association

"The Manhattan Cocktail is mysterious, swanky, sexy, and sophisticated which instantly says something about the person who drinks one. Albert Schmid's in-depth look at this elusive tipple is both entertaining and insightful, just reading his book had me reaching for my mixing glass!" — Tony Abou-Ganim, The Modern Mixologist

"The Manhattan Cocktail is an excellent little book that could add variety to any bartender's recipe books. It would make a perfect gift for anyone who likes to be creative at cocktail parties." — Bowling Green Daily News

"Bourbon connoisseurs and amateur mixologists alike will find everything they need to know about this venerable beverage in The Manhattan Cocktail: A Modern Guide to the WhiskeyClassic by chef Albert W. A. Schmid .Throughout [the book], Schmid weaves together the story of the essential players and significant milestones that have added depth and complexity to the story of the Manhattan over the years. Through anecdotal storytelling and an eye for the art of mixing drinks, this book reveals the rich origins of this truly American concoction and provides the knowledge necessary to pour the perfect glass." — Broadway World

" The Manhattan Cocktail: A Modern Guide to the Whiskey Classic [...] is a pretty little book that's perfect for stuffing the stockings of those hankering for a classic cocktail. Also suitable for fans of TV's "Mad Men," which singlehandedly brought the drink back into popular culture. The author, who directs the Sullivan University hotel restaurant management program, includes more than 50 recipes." — Courier Journal

"Sullivan University spirits educator and author Albert Schmid [...] has penned the definitive guide to another iconic whiskey concoction, the Manhattan. [His] latest offering [...] contains more than 50 recipes as well as notes, anecdotes and an examination of the drink's history and ingredients." — Kentucky Monthly

"[This] is the essential guide covering everything that the aficionado needs to know about the cocktail through an examination of its history and ingredients while featuring more than 50 recipes with notes and anecdotes." — UKNow

"The attention-grabbing book's content is excellent for individuals interested in creating various mouthwatering Manhattan cocktails and knowing their sagas." — The Southeastern Librarian

From the Publisher