Are you new to the dry life? Maybe you are just diving into the world of mocktails and alcohol free drinks. Or perhaps you have been clean and sober for years! No matter how long you have been abstaining from alcohol, it is always exciting to find a delicious, new alcohol free drink. It is especially exciting when that drink tastes so much like a classic cocktail!
The Manhattan cocktail has been around for centuries. It has solidified a place at the top of the list for best, traditional cocktails. We knew we needed to make a non alcoholic manhattan that was just as good as the original cocktail, maybe even better! We think that our virgin manhattan may become your new favorite drink. This is especially true if you used to be a Manhattan cocktail lover in your past life.
What is a Manhattan Drink?
The Manhattan cocktail is considered to be one of the original cocktails. It is elegant, refined, simple and delicious. It is truly an iconic drink.
Some people say the Manhattan was a drink created for Winston Churchill’s mother. Others say the Manhattan drink was first created at the Manhattan club in New York in the 1800’s. A drink made primarily of whiskey, bitters and vermouth was described as being one of the most popular drinks in the club.
No matter where the drink originated, it is still so popular today. A classic manhattan is made with whiskey, sweet vermouth and Angostura bitters. Sometimes it has rye whiskey added into the glass. However, our delicious virgin Manhattan has no alcohol but still tastes incredibly good and very close to that traditional drink.
What’s in a Manhattan Drink?
Wondering what we use to make our virgin manhattan? Let us tell you all about it! Take a look at these non alcoholic Manhattan drink ingredients and see what you need to pick up at the store!
- Cranberry Juice- cranberry juice has a sweet and tart taste that is similar to the flavors found in whiskey.
- Orange Juice- Orange juice adds a sweet, tangy and fruity taste to the drink.
- Jar of maraschino cherries- Our virgin manhattan uses both the juice from the maraschino cherry jar and the cherries themselves.
- Lemon- a little fresh lemon juice makes the drink brighter
- Angostura bitters- Angostura bitters gives the drink a bitter and spicy flavor. This is the secret ingredient to any good Manhattan cocktail!
You should be able to easily find these ingredients in any grocery store. Even the angostura bitters are sold in most stores! Let me tell you a little bit more about that specific ingredient.
Are Angostura Bitters Alcoholic?
Angostura bitters may be an ingredient you have never used before. It is a classic cocktail flavoring that really adds a lot to a drink. The spicy, bitter taste is very unique!
Angostura bitters are made from herbs and spices. Some brands use angostura bark while others do not. Original bitters do not have angostura bark but were made in the town of Angostura, Venezuela.
Angostura bitters do contain alcohol. However, it is about as “alcoholic” as vanilla extract. There is such a small amount of bitters used in our virgin Manhattan recipe that it should not be considered a real alcohol.
However, if you are trying to avoid any type of alcohol, even the smallest trace amount, you may want to skip this ingredient. Add a pinch of cinnamon to the cocktail shaker in place of bitters to give the drink a little extra spice.
How to Make a Virgin Manhattan
A non-alcoholic Manhattan may look fancy and sound pretty classy, but it actually isn’t very hard to make. You can make two perfect virgin manhattans in about 5 minutes. Take a quick look at how to make our yummy, easy Manhattan mocktail.
- Measure all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker, only skip the cherries.
- Fill the cocktail shaker with ice, cover and shake hard for about 15 seconds.
- Put a strainer top on the cocktail shaker and strain the drink into two martini glasses.
- Drop a maraschino cherry into each glass and enjoy!
Sounds pretty simple, right? Anyone can make this perfect virgin manhattan. And we also know that everyone will love to drink it.
Give our super simple non alcoholic manhattan a try. We know that it will be the new, classic version of the iconic Manhattan drink. It has all the flavors of the traditional cocktail without any of the harsh, unnecessary alcohol. Such a total win!
Virgin Manhattan Mocktail Recipe
2
servings5
minutesIngredients
2 ounces cranberry juice
2 ounces orange juice
1 tsp maraschino cherry juice
1 tsp lemon juice
2 dashes bitters
2 Maraschino cherries
Ice
Directions
- Add all of the ingredients, except the cherry, to a cocktail shaker and then fill the shaker with ice.
- Cover and shake well.
- Strain the drink into two martini glasses.
- Garnish with the cherries and enjoy cold.
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You Asked, We’re Answering
We want to help you make the most perfect cocktail ever. So, we are happy to answer any questions you may have about our drink recipes. Here are a few frequently asked questions and answers about Manhattan’s that will hopefully help!
Is there non-alcoholic vermouth?
Yes, there are non alcoholic vermouth’s on the market. A non alcoholic vermouth is a great way to add spice and a sweet dry flavor to any drink.
What is the most popular non alcoholic?
We have an insane amount of delicious mocktails and non alcoholic drinks on our website. Some of the most popular drink recipes are the non alcoholic cucumber gimlet, our peach bellini, and the easy summer sunrise mocktail. Non alcoholic beers and wines are also very popular. There are even great non alcoholic liquors on the market! Check out our guide to the best non alcoholic spirits and drinks and give a few of them a try. You never know what you might love the best!
What drink is similar to a Manhattan?
A drink called the “Brooklyn cocktail” is very similar to the Manhattan. It has whiskey, vermouth and bitters which is almost identical to the original Manhattan. There are also many variations of the Manhattan like the “perfect manhattan” made with dry and sweet vermouth, the “black manhattan” made with rye and amaro, or the brandy manhattan which is made with brandy (of course!).
Is a Manhattan a femanine drink?
A manhattan is definitely not a femanine drink. It is strong, powerful and great for everyone to enjoy, no matter your gender! It is simply a drink for people with good taste.
This is a great recipe for an afternoon get together. I love the flavors!
I love the flavor that the bitters add here! I didn't miss the alcohol at all and didn't feel bad afterward. I'll definitely make this again soon!
We made this for a baby shower over the weekend and it was a huge hit with the ladies! The bartender couldn't keep up with the requests for this drink, lol!
This was perfect for my dry January. My friends and I are trying to cut down but still want to have a fun drink!
I was hesitant to make this, but it turned out soooo good. Tasted like the real thing! Thank you for sharing!