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–+ servings
A Christmas Manhattan Cocktail with a smoked rosemary garnish

Christmas Manhattan Recipe

Yield: 1 cocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
This holiday addition, Christmas Manhattan Cocktail is a fun twist on the classic. With a nod to Christmas chocolates, I swapped some of the traditional sweet vermouth for creme de cacao, which adds interest with a hint of chocolate.
The smoked rosemary garnish smells wonderful and shouldn't be missed. When I make these for us at home, I usually skip the icing sugar 'snow' on the rosemary. But it's a fun conversation starter at a party!

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces whiskey, see notes
  • ½ ounce sweet vermouth
  • ½ ounce creme de cacao
  • Rosemary sprigs, to garnish
  • 1 teaspoon powdered sugar, optional

Instructions 

  • Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add the whiskey, sweet vermouth, and creme de cacao and stir until cold.
    2 ounces whiskey, ½ ounce sweet vermouth, ½ ounce creme de cacao
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  • Place a large ice cube into a rocks glass then pour the cocktail over the top.
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  • Use a lighter to carefully burn the tip of a rosemary sprig then let the flame extinguish. For a snowy effect, sift a little powdered sugar over the burned rosemary.
    Rosemary sprigs, 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
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  • Place the rosemary sprig into the cocktail or set it on the rim and serve right away.
    image for recipe instruction

Notes

Whiskey: I love bourbon, so that's what I usually use when making a Manhattan, but other whiskeys work well, too. 
Rosemary: Burning a bit of the rosemary might seem fussy, but it adds so much to the drink. While you don't taste it, you will smell it with every sip. It's wonderful.
Serving: 1 cocktail, Calories: 202kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 0.01g, Potassium: 1mg, Sugar: 4g, Iron: 0.01mg