The Cocktail That Never Sleeps

Even after countless Sex and the City viewing and two visits (one that involved a very serious incident involving a police horse in Times Square) there's still something about New York that leaves us absolutely and completely in awe. Sure we've got London, but New YORK, so much better right?

This week we decided to take a look at the cocktail that takes it's name from the Big Apple - the Manhattan. To find out more about the drink, we spoke to uber mixologist and global brand ambassador for Martini, Giuseppe Gallo.

What is a Manhattan Giuseppe? It's regarded as one of the 'classic' cocktails. It was invented in NYC in the mid-19th century so it's been around for a while.

What does it say about you if you order one? That you've established yourself as a whiskey drinker - a connoisseur if you will.

Nice. I don't think we've ever been described as a connoisseur of anything. Is there a secret to getting it just right if you're making it yourself? The correct ratio between the whiskey and Martini is SO key. It's 2 parts whiskey and 1/2 part Martini Rosso.

What are Angostura Bitters and is there anything you can use instead/can you make your own? - NO! It must be made with Angostura Bitters. They're the glue that hold the whiskey and the Martini together.

Any other tips if we're making our own? The garnish. A maraschino cherry can make a huge difference. Always try to go for a freshly macerated cherry versus the cheap artificial red cherries. A fresh one can add different layers of flavours to the final drink.

Cool thanks! And have you got a recipe we can use? Sure! Here you go...

Ingredients

2 Parts Rye Whiskey

1/2 Part MARTINI Rosso

1 dash Angostura Bitters (optional)

Lemon Twist or cherry to garnish

Instructions

Follow Jess on Twitter @jess_commons

This article originally appeared on The Debrief.