With all the running around and extra work come holiday time, it can be difficult to get into the spirit of the season…so I like to jumpstart the jolly with actual spirits!
A few years ago we began barrel-aging Manhattans and giving them as grown-up gifts, along with my famous masala-spiced nuts, to our adult friends who imbibe. (The non-drinkers just got the spiced nuts, which are terrific all by themselves.) This seasonal offering has now become a tradition, though I’ve tweaked it along the way. While aging in our own barrel was fun, it was limited in volume, and we needed to produce more each year as word spread. That led me to find other ways to successfully age Manhattans. My favorite so far? The wood chip method. But please note, this only works with wood chips from actual whisky barrels.
If you want to try it yourself, I recommend Jack Daniels wood smoking chips, because they are good, inexpensive, and readily available from multiple online retailers. There are also other brands of authentic whiskey barrel wood chips out there, and carved wooden aging sticks as well. If you prefer to shop locally instead of online, look for companies that offer beer and winemaking supplies. They’ll be happy to help you.
Here are two other tips. First, always give your batches at least 4-6 weeks to age well and fully absorb the smoky woodchip flavor. Second, don’t forget to make extra. You’ll need it for your (ahem) testing as the batches age—after all, letting your nose and taste buds check in on the process is part of the fun.
Bottoms up and bon hiver, everybody!
— Shaun
Recipe
Pantry-Aged Manhattans
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups rye or bourbon whiskey (we use Rittenhouse)
- 1 cup sweet vermouth (we prefer Carpano Antica )
- 2 tablespoons orange or Angostura bitters
- Dark maracino cherries and orange zest
- 24-ounce canning jar and lid
- 2 ounces charred oak barrel chips
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place the wood chips into the canning jar.
- Fill with whiskey and vermouth.
- Seal jar and store in a dark cool place, like your pantry or garage, for six weeks. Rotate the jar a little bit each week to allow all of the liquid to get a bit of woody aeration.
- At the end of aging, strain the wood chips out of alcohol and add bitters. To serve drink, shake with ice in a cocktail shaker, pour into a cocktail glass, garnish with a cherry and an orange zest.
Bourbon vs. Rye
Traditionally the Manhattan is made with rye, but with the surge of enthusiasm for bourbon in recent years it has become common to use these two whiskeys interchangeably.
Whiskey is made of a fermented grain mash that is aged in wooden casks that give it its color and taste.
Bourbon must be at least 51% Corn and can only be called bourbon if made in the United States. Because of the corn in its mash, it is fuller and sweeter.
American Rye whiskey must be a majority rye grass, a relative of wheat. It tends to be spicier and drier. So you just need to decide what your taste prefers.
Recipe
Spiced Nuts, 3 Ways 😉
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup nuts – whole and halves
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or agave nectar
- 2 tablespoons brown or granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350º. Prep an oven sheet with either a silicon liner or a piece of parchment paper (this keeps your pans from becoming sticky, difficult messes).
- In a large bowl, stir all the above ingredients together and any spice variety you decide on, until all the nuts are well coated.
- Spread the mixture out on prepared oven sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let cool. Break up the nuts and serve. Or, store up to 7 days in an air-tight container.
VARIATIONS
Masala
Add 1 ½ teaspoon Garam Masala Spice mix
Chinese 5-Spice (this ones a bit different , pay attention!)
1 teaspoon Chinese 5-Spice Powder, mixed into sugar syrup mixture. Then bake the nuts. Immediately after the nuts come out of the oven, when they are hot and molten, finely grate 1 teaspoon of orange or tangerine zest over the pan and let cool.
Cinnamon
Add 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon and a pinch of sea salt
Barrels of manhattans. Is that allowed?
This is stunning. Go you gorgeous being.
For whiskey drinkers this sounds amazing! I love your creativity, Shaun! xo
Thanks Shaun for sharing! Love your Manhattans!
Pat
YAY, go Baby go!!!
2 of our favorite things featured! Mr P just wants to know how we can join tasting and review team!
You did it!
LOVE You! You did it! Congratulations. So good!