What's more indie than something that's a little retro? Hence an ode to the Manhattan. This understated drink has stood the test of time. It's a man's drink, something that was good enough for your dad, if your dad had class that is. This drink transcends white collar and blue collar dichotomies and has stood the test of time. The simple mixture of whiskey (bourbon to make it indie), sweet vermouth, a dash of bitters and garnished by a single cherry is not only great tasting and smooth to drink, but it is also a statement of who you are. Smooth and slightly smokey, a modicum of mystery, not simple yet it is straight forward. Complex: yes. Convoluted, it is not.
This classic and masculine drink isn't for young strapping studs who would prefer shooters and beer, or slimy old sedentary drunks drinking swill. The Manhattan is a drink for gentlemen who know how to appreciate the finer things in life. The Manhattan is poetry, a metaphor for meditation; the drink shows that you appreciate and can find beauty that is clandestine and concealed: complex and complicated.
