This Barrel-Aged Bourbon Manhattan cocktail is a twist on a classic. Featuring aged quality bourbon, maraschino liqueur and dark cherries, this drink will become your all time favorite!
Disclosure: I received the Personalized Whiskey Barrel and Whiskey Ice Balls featured in this post at no cost from UncommonGoods. My full review of this barrel and the ice molds from UncommonGoods also includes a homemade recipe for the best bourbon manhattan in town. The views and opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.
My husband is a bourbon drinker. It’s an acquired taste.
Lately he’s been enjoying barrel-aged bourbon in his Manhattan cocktails.
If you like the flavor of whiskey or bourbon, then this barrel-aged Manhattan cocktail is for you. It’s a twist on a classic.
HOW TO MAKE A MANHATTAN COCKTAIL
A Manhattan is traditionally made with bourbon and sweet vermouth.
What makes this homemade Manhattan so special is that it uses quality bourbon that has been barrel aging and is infused with the oak flavors from the cask.
My husband adds maraschino liqueur which imparts a sharp, sweet cherry flavor to this cocktail and he tops it off with a dark Luxardo cherry.
The two easiest liqueur brands to find are Luxardo ($30 a bottle) and Cristiani ($20).
Dark cherries are what you would typically find in a classic Manhattan.
Stay away from the Shirley Temple cherries with this recipe. Our go-to brand is Luxardo.
Luxardo maraschino cherries are dark sour maraschino cherries that are candied and steeped in a syrup made of cherry juice and sugar.
They are found in the liquor department with the liqueur and bitters. While Luxardo cherries can be pricey, do not substitute for the neon variety.
A 5-liter or one gallon barrel is the perfect size for accentuating the flavor of quality rye whiskey and bourbons.
WHERE TO FIND YOUR OWN OAK BARREL
I knew my husband would love this Personalized Whiskey Barrel from UncommonGoods. And I knew he would get great use out of these small barrels.
It makes a perfect gift for Father’s Day. Be sure to check out more great gift ideas on their website.
The barrel ages your choice of liquor to peak flavor just like the full-size barrels found in professional distilleries.
A personalized engraving makes this barrel a special gift and keepsake.
After curing the barrel for a few days, he added a good quality higher proof bourbon and left it to age for least 30 days.
Now that the bourbon has aged and is ready to drink, it’s time to enjoy it in your favorite Manhattan cocktail.
Another way we are using the barrel is to create enough of our favorite cocktails and using the barrel to age them.
HOW TO MAKE A BARREL BATCH OF MANHATTANS
Barrel Aged Bourbon Manhattans (Barrel recipe)
This Barrel-Aged Bourbon Manhattan cocktail is a twist on a classic, featuring aged quality bourbon, maraschino liqueur and dark cherries.
Ingredients:
- 3 liters bourbon (We used Bulleit)
- 750 ml maraschino liqueur
- 750 ml sweet vermouth
- 2 ounces Angostura bitters (half bottle)
Instructions:
Mix together the ingredients and pour into a 5L barrel. Age for 28 days but no longer than 60 days. Transfer to bottles if necessary.
To make a smaller amount, divide the ingredients accordingly. As the barrel get reused the aging process shortens because the barrel will impart the wood flavor more quickly after multiple uses.
Once aged, strain the barrel-aged cocktail and pour over ice. Garnish with Luxardo cherries.
If you’d rather enjoy your barrel aged bourbon as is with just a touch of honey, then check out the Barrel Aged Honey Bourbon recipe below.
It only needs 14 days in the barrel because it uses premium bourbon already double aged.
Barrel Aged Honey Bourbon
Ingredients:
- 4 750ml bottles of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon
- 1 quart of local organic honey
Instructions:
Heat the jar of honey in a pot of water to thin it out. Once thinned, pour into the barrel using a funnel. Next add the bourbon and age it for 14-21 days, no longer.
Return the aged bourbon to the bottle to enjoy on occasions.
Here is where the jumbo whiskey ice balls come into play. They are perfect for sipping honey infused bourbon alone because they melt slower. They cool your drink without watering it down. “Sheer perfection” as my husband would say.
Order today
I’m a big fan of UncommonGoods. I discovered their products a few years ago searching for the perfect Christmas gift for my son. I ordered the Baseball Game and it’s become a family favorite. Visit UncommonGoods for more great gifts for the men in your life.
I also like the idea of supporting a company that has great ethics. Did you know that UncommonGoods starts their lowest paid seasonal worker at 50% above minimum-wage. Here are a few more interesting facts:
- Half of what they sell is made by hand.
- Most of their jewelry products, home decor and table top items are created in the USA.
- A third of their entire collection includes recycled or upcycled materials.
- Their products are created in harmony with the environment without harm to animals or people.
What I like about UncommonGoods is that you can find that special unique gift for that person who’s hard to shop for.
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How to Make a Barrel Aged Manhattan (Single Recipe)
Ingredients
- 3 parts barrel aged bourbon
- 1 part maraschino liqueur
- 1 part sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 1 to 3 Luxardo cherries
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Combine the bourbon, maraschino liqueur, vermouth, and bitters. Shake well. Transfer to a rocks glass and top with cherries.
If you make a recipe, be sure to snap a photo and hashtag it #homeandplate. I’d love to see what you cook!
Oh man. My pregnant butt is SO jealous of this right now! I love bourbon and luuuuv manhattans. So cool that you scored a whiskey barrel!
Very cool indeed. July will get here soon enough then you can enjoy that bourbon manhattan.
I absolutely LOVE those ice cubes! I got a boyfriend a set of steel cubes to use for his scotch but these are so much more fun (and probably cheaper too)
Both balls were about $20 and you can use them in just about any beverage. They melt slower too. Thanks Bintu.
Wow, I love the personalised whiskey barrel! It would make such a fabulous gift for Father’s day! Stunning photos too; I’m swooning over this bourbon!
Thanks Annie…it has been fun to test out the recipes. A bourbon manhattan has become a favorite cocktail for my hubby and his friends as a result of the barrel. It just makes the drink that much better. A great gift indeed.
What a great gift! I love that! I am heading over to Uncommon Goods and checking them out! Thanks!
Thanks Beth…there are so many great gift at UncommonGoods you are bound to find just the right thing. Good luck:)
My bourbon-loving cigar-smoking husband would love this barrel for Father’s Day and birthday (they’re close together), and I have no doubt he’d love the cocktail. I need to check out the UnCommonGoods website for sure!
UncommonGoods has so many unique gifts for that hard to shop for person. This barrel was a hit in my house. So was the Bourbon Manhattan!
I haven’t had bourbon in years! You make it look so good, I may have to revisit.
Yes you should. These recipes are some of my husband’s favorites:)
Trying to decide between the 2L and the 5L. About how many drinks do you get from each one? Thanks!
Tough decision. The 2L holds about a half a gallon while the 5L holds a gallon and a half. Just depends how much you want to spend and how often you want to fill your barrel. Good luck with your decision 🙂
I just ordered one for my boyfriend for Christmas, I’m so excited since we tried the Manhattan from someone who had a barrel. My question is how do you cure the barrel before you use it?
You’ll want to follow the curing directions that come with the barrel. The curing process uses hot water for a few days of curing. Easy enough 🙂