Manhattan vs old fashioned: what's the difference?
A Manhattan is whiskey stirred with sweet vermouth and bitters and served up, while an old fashioned is whiskey with sugar and bitters on ice, simpler and more whiskey-forward.
Manhattan
EasyBoozy
TartSweet
Not bitterBracing
Silky and spiced, whiskey softened by sweet vermouth.
What does Manhattan taste like?Old fashioned
EasyBoozy
TartSweet
Not bitterBracing
Whiskey with a touch of sugar, bitters and orange peel, slow-sipping simple.
What does Old fashioned taste like?The real difference
Both are stirred whiskey drinks with bitters. The Manhattan gets its sweetness from vermouth, a fortified wine with herbs, which makes it rounder and more complex. The old fashioned uses plain sugar, so the whiskey stays at the center. Manhattans come in a coupe; old fashioneds come on a big ice cube.
Side by side
ManhattanOld fashioned
Sweetened withSweet vermouthSugar or simple syrup
ServedUp, in a coupe, with a cherryOn the rocks, with orange peel
TastesHerbal, winey, roundWhiskey-forward, caramel, orange
Which to order
- Order a Manhattan if you want whiskey with more layers and a silky feel.
- Order an old fashioned if you want to actually taste the whiskey.
Quick questions
- Which is sweeter, a Manhattan or an old fashioned?
- Depends on the bar. The Manhattan's sweetness comes with herbs and wine; the old fashioned's is plain sugar. Neither is meant to be very sweet.
- Rye or bourbon in a Manhattan?
- Classic recipes lean rye for a drier, spicier drink. Bourbon makes it rounder and sweeter. Bars use both, and you can ask.