How to simply and quickly make an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan at home

The Old Fashioned and the Manhattan are two cocktails most have heard of, many love, but few know how to make correctly.

Origins of these stirred cocktails have been discussed and debated for hundreds of years. No matter where they were first made, the one thing we know now is that they’re making a big resurgence. But as simple as they can appear, they can be very difficult to make correctly.

Because of this, J.P. Wiser’s has bottled both of these pre-Prohibition Era cocktails, and now they’re ready to serve in a pinch. The company has perfected each recipe (and provided us with a few tips for elevating these drinks), so you can enjoy them in the comfort of your own home just like you would in your favourite cocktail bar.

Old Fashioned

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This “Queen of the classic cocktails” is made by muddling a sugar cube with bitters, adding whisky, and performing a lengthy stir to harmonize the ingredients which are then poured over fresh ice in a glass. Lastly, garnish with a citrus peel and a cherry. Sounds simple, right?

Wrong. It can be difficult matching the perfect whisky with the right proportion of ingredients, but we have a recipe courtesy of J.P. Wiser’s that will ensure you create the best Old Fashioned — right in the comfort of your home.

Method:

1. Open J.P. Wiser’s Old Fashioned Whisky Cocktail
2. Pour (2 oz.) over ice
3. Stir
4. Serve with citrus peel (optional)

We promise we’re not trying to trick you. It really is that simple. J.P. Wiser’s Old Fashioned Whisky Cocktail is the newest addition to the J.P. Wiser’s family and is based on 100% Canadian-grown and -distilled corn and rye whisky, sugar, bitters, and orange oil.

Manhattan

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This classic, less sweet cousin of the Old Fashioned cocktail is made by adding whisky, sweet vermouth, and bitters into a glass to stir over ice. It’s then poured in a preferred glass and garnished with fruit of your choice, preferably a whisky-soaked cherry.

A drink this beautifully simple means even the slightest variance of proportions will drastically change the taste. J.P. Wiser’s has bottled the perfect trinity of flavours so all you need to do is follow their simple recipe.

Method:

1. Open J.P. Wiser’s Manhattan Whisky Cocktail
2. Pour (2 oz.) over ice
3. Stir
4. Serve with a cherry

If this sounds similar to the Old Fashioned recipe, you’re right. They both have a similar base spirit, include bitters, must be stirred, and contain very few ingredients. But it’s the J.P Wiser’s proprietary sweet vermouth (in place of the sugar found in the Old Fashioned) that allows the flavours of the drink to flourish and change, becoming something deliciously different.

J.P. Wiser’s

Founded in 1857, J.P. Wiser’s whiskies are proudly Canadian and aged to perfection in Southern Ontario using Canadian farmers grains with contracts going back five generations or more. Each is created and bottled in Windsor, Ontario at Hiram Walker & Sons — one of the largest distilleries in North America.

These drinks are designed to provide the perfect strength and flavours of both an Old Fashioned and Manhattan cocktail once poured over ice and stirred. Each bottle makes 12 cocktail portions when measured out, ensuring you can create the perfect drink easily and without stress in the comfort of your home. It’s also a great gift for anyone you know that could use a break these holidays (which is pretty much everyone)!

You’ll look like a seasoned bartender, without any of the fancy mixology work (don’t worry, your secret’s safe with us).