November 2, 2020
Kenji Mizumori
Sagamore Spirit Distiller’s Select Manhattan Finish (image via Sagamore Spirit)
I’ll admit, it took me a number of years to warm up to Manhattans. Mostly a whiskey and a beer person and plus, many years ago, there wasn’t much use of good vermouths as I was learning my way behind the bar. Nowadays, there is more of an appreciation of the nuances of a good vermouth or an amaro in the use of a Manhattan. And it can be a beautiful thing.
“Whiskey enthusiasts want to be challenged,” said Brian Treacy, Sagamore Spirit’s president, at the time Sagamore Distiller’s Select Manhattan Finish was released, “and we’re always up for a good challenge too. It led us to try something that’s never been done before, which ultimately became Manhattan Finish. The process started with breaking down the flavors of a Manhattan cocktail and then building them back up again. Our distilling team spent weeks testing different combinations of our straight rye whiskey aged separately in cherry brandy, vermouth and bitters barrels to find just the right blend.
“The result turned out to be exactly what we wanted: a full-proof whiskey with character – not a cocktail – and one that was well worth the risk.”
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