Here's how to make a French Manhattan Cocktail with cognac, sweet vermouth, orange liqueur, and Angostura bitters.

A French Manhattan is a fancy twist on the traditional Manhattan. It uses cognac in place of bourbon and adds orange liqueur, for a slightly sweeter and smoother cocktail.

Why you'll love this recipe

• Simple ingredients: Gather just 4 ingredients plus a cocktail cherry to garnish!
• Fuss-free: While this cocktail is certainly elevated, it's remarkably easy to make. Serve in coupe glasses for an elegant touch!
• Great for special occasions: Enjoy during happy hour, for an after dinner drink, or serve at holiday parties.

Equipment

To make this regal drink at home, you'll need a cocktail mixing glass, jigger for measuring, and bar spoon for stirring.

Tip: A Manhattan and Manhattan variations should be stirred, not shaken. Shaking gives the cocktail a cloudy appearance.

Ingredients

• Cognac: Cognac is a variety of French brandy named for the region where it’s produced. It must be made in the state of Charente in the Cognac region of France, and be made from white grapes from one of six different terroirs. Bottles vary from $20 to thousands of dollars, though you do not need to use an expensive bottle to make this cocktail.
• Sweet vermouth: I suggest using Dolin Dry, a fine French Vermouth that’s distinguished by its light, fresh, and clean profile.
• Orange liqueur: You can use triple sec, cointreau, or grand marnier.
• Angostura bitters: These iconic aromatic bitters add a classic woody spice flavor that brings everything together. For a slight variation, use orange bitters instead.

How to make a french manhattan cocktail

Find the complete recipe with a full list of ingredients below!

• Stir: Combine the cognac, sweet vermouth, orange liqueur, and angostura bitters together in a cocktail glass. Stir with ice until chilled.
• Strain: Once chilled, strain into a chilled coupe glass.
• Garnish: Finally, garnish the French Manhattan with a maraschino cherry or luxardo cherry.

Related cocktail recipes

• French 77: An elegant twist on the classic French 75. It's a bubbly mix of sparkling wine, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice.
• Champagne Cocktail: Calls for a mix of bubbly sparkling wine, sugar, and angostura bitters. It's festive, elegant, and fun!
• Negroni: A classic cocktail featuring gin, campari, and sweet vermouth. It's a spirit-forward drink with a bitter profile.
• Aviation: Another classic cocktail, best known for its indigo hue and citrus flavor. It’s light, bright, and floral.

I hope you enjoy this Manhattan with a French twist as much as we do! If you give it a try, be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think.

Recipe adapted from Drinking French. 

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