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Happy Hour: James Beard's Standard Manhattan

Elena North-Kelly

Manhattan cocktail

Manhattan cocktail

Elena North-Kelly

Mon, May 16, 2016

Don Draper’s brooding gaze and chiseled features …

Don Draper’s brooding gaze and chiseled features aren’t the only appeal of AMC’s Mad Men—for serious cocktail enthusiasts, the hit television series also provided a weekly fix of timeless libations. One such example is the Manhattan, which is rumored to have originated at New York City's Manhattan Club is 1874, and is made from a strapping blend of Rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and a dash of Angostura bitters. Classic, elegant, and strong, this cocktail is the liquid form of Don Draper himself. To start your weekend with unequivocal grace, get the recipe James Beard favored and start sipping.

Elena North-Kelly is senior editor at the James Beard Foundation. Find her on Twitter and Instagram.