Southern Comfort Manhattan Recipe
Southern Comfort's peach, orange, and cinnamon notes soften the classic Manhattan's edge without losing the backbone bourbon provides, so the drink stays boozy and stirred-not-shaken silky, just rounder and a touch sweeter than the original.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 5 min
- Servings
- 1
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 fl oz bourbon
- 1/2 fl oz Southern Comfort
- 3/4 fl oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 cherry brandied cherry, for garnish
- 1 strip orange peel, for garnish
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 188
- Protein
- 0g
- Carbs
- 9g
- Fat
- 0g
Based on the recipe as written, one serving. Recalculates if you swap an ingredient above. An estimate only, exact values depend on the specific ingredients used.
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Instructions
- 1Chill a coupe or rocks glass in the freezer for at least 10 minutes, or fill it with ice water while you mix the drink.
- 2Fill a mixing glass two-thirds full with ice. Add the bourbon, Southern Comfort, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
- 3Stir with a bar spoon for 20-30 seconds, until the outside of the mixing glass feels ice-cold to the touch.
- 4Discard the ice water or freezer chill from the serving glass. Strain the cocktail into the chilled glass, either straight up with no ice or over one large fresh ice cube.
- 5Twist the orange peel over the glass to release its oils, rub it around the rim, and drop it in along with the brandied cherry.
Tips & variations
- For a spicier, less sweet pour, swap the sweet vermouth for an equal amount of dry vermouth and add a third dash of bitters.
- Rye whiskey in place of bourbon adds a peppery edge that balances Southern Comfort's sweetness even more.
- A dash of orange bitters alongside the Angostura echoes the orange peel garnish and rounds out the fruitiness.
- To batch for a party, multiply the bourbon, Southern Comfort, vermouth, and bitters by the number of guests and store the mix in the freezer; stir over ice and garnish only when pouring.
Storage & reheating
This drink is meant to be mixed and served immediately, it isn't a keep-and-reheat recipe. A batched, undiluted mix of the bourbon, Southern Comfort, vermouth, and bitters (no ice, no garnish) keeps well in a sealed bottle in the freezer for up to a month; stir a portion over fresh ice right before serving.
Tips from the Tulo kitchen
- A large format ice cube melts more slowly than standard cubes, so the drink stays properly diluted without turning watery by the last sip.
- Use a real brandied or maraschino cherry with a stem, not a neon-red candied one; the muted, boozy sweetness matches the drink instead of fighting it.
FAQ
What's the difference between a regular Manhattan and a Southern Comfort Manhattan?
A classic Manhattan is just whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. This version replaces a small portion of the bourbon with Southern Comfort, adding peach, orange, and cinnamon notes and a slightly sweeter, softer finish.
Can I make this with all Southern Comfort and no bourbon?
Yes, but it will taste noticeably sweeter and less like a traditional Manhattan; using bourbon as the base with Southern Comfort as an accent keeps the drink's backbone intact.
What vermouth works best here?
A classic sweet (red) vermouth like Carpano Antica or Cocchi di Torino stands up well to Southern Comfort's sweetness; a lighter vermouth can get lost in the mix.
Do I need a jigger to measure this accurately?
A jigger or measuring shot glass keeps the bourbon-to-vermouth ratio consistent; eyeballing pours is the most common reason home-mixed Manhattans taste too boozy or too sweet from one batch to the next.
