Ziggy’s Manhattan transfer

Dr Ziggy Macdonald, the Government’s head of alcohol and anti-social behaviour, proved once again that it pays to leave embarrassing details about yourself on networking websites.

As the good doctor lectured Britain on the perils of drink today, some bum stumbled upon his Friends Reunited web page, which listed his occupations as drinking Sweet Manhattan cocktails, spending time in posh bars and listening to kick-ass rock.

You’re a dude, Ziggy. Fess up and don’t be ashamed.

A Sweet Manhattan, today’s papers said, involves two measures of whisky, one of Italian sweet vermouth, and a dash of Angostura bitters.

But to me this is just a regular Manhattan, why has the word “sweet” been added? Perhaps it was named that way because so many mixers get Manhattans wrong.

A proper Manhattan should always be made with Canadian Club or Seagram’s or rye. Some insist on rye or nothing but CC is the best. 

When Bourbon is used, as some bartenders are wont to do, it is not a Manhattan but something else. Mark Kingwell  suggests it’s an Atlanta, but I’m not sure.   

When making a Manhattan, I usually give the mix a shake with a little cracked ice and pour into a tumbler (the proper glass is a ‘lowball’)without a strainer. A cherry is also a must, even for burly men.

By the way, if you make it with Scotch, it’s called a Rob Roy.