🥃 Thums Up Manhattan

Michter's Whiskey, sweet vermouth, Cynar, cherry bitters & Thums Up cola cherries

Michter's Unblended American Whiskey
5 min
Stirred
Coupe
~25%
Ambassadors Clubhouse
Ingredients
  • 45ml Michter's Unblended American Whiskey (or bourbon)
  • 20ml Rosso sweet vermouth (Carpano Antica Formula preferred)
  • 10ml Cynar amaro
  • 2 dashes cherry bitters
  • 1 large clear ice cube
  • Thums Up cola cherries (to make: simmer ½ cup maraschino cherries in 60ml Thums Up + 2 tbsp sugar for 5 min; cool)
  • Orange zest to express
Method
  1. 1
    StirCombine whiskey, vermouth, Cynar, and cherry bitters in a mixing glass with cracked ice. Stir 30 seconds.
  2. 2
    StrainStrain into a coupe or over a large clear ice cube in an Old Fashioned glass.
  3. 3
    GarnishExpress an orange zest over the surface. Add 2 Thums Up cola cherries on a pick.

About This Cocktail

The Manhattan is arguably America's most important cocktail. Ambassadors Clubhouse's version is fundamentally a respect-paying riff — the base structure is orthodox (whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters) but the addition of Cynar (artichoke-based Italian amaro) adds a bitter herbal complexity, and the Thums Up cola cherry replaces the standard Luxardo or Maraschino cherry with India's most culturally significant soft drink. Thums Up, with its distinctive spiced cola flavour, transforms a Maraschino cherry into something distinctly subcontinental.

Variations

Thums Up Rob RoyUse Scotch whisky instead of American — the Scotch's fruit-forward character complements Thums Up differently
Vantage PointReplace Cynar with Amaro Montenegro — lighter, more orange-peel forward, less bitter
Amrut ManhattanUse Amrut Indian Single Malt whisky — the tropical fruit notes of this Indian spirit are extraordinary with the Thums Up cherries
Bartender Tips

Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth is richer, sweeter, and more complex than standard vermouths — it is the right choice for Manhattan riffs. Cynar is bitter and herbal with an artichoke-citrus flavour that bridges the sweet vermouth and the cola cherry. The Thums Up cola cherry is worth making: the drink's bittersweet spiced cola syrup soaks into the cherry and creates a garnish unlike any Maraschino. Thums Up is available at Indian grocery stores.

Source Restaurant
Restaurant
Ambassadors Clubhouse, Midtown Manhattan, New York City
Spirit
Michter's Unblended American Whiskey
Method
Stirred
ABV
~25%
Bourbon Guide All Indian Cocktails Indian Mocktails Cocktails A–Z
Where to drink this
Restaurant
Ambassadors Clubhouse
Address
Midtown Manhattan, New York City
Style
Indian cocktail bar & lounge
Accolades
Midtown's standout Indian cocktail destination

Ambassadors Clubhouse brings an aristocratic sensibility to Indian cocktail culture — drinks that draw from the era of Indian diplomatic gatherings, colonial-era clubs, and Mughal court traditions. The menu is sophisticated without being austere, featuring regional Indian ingredients in cocktails designed to be talked about as much as drunk.

Visit ambassadorsclubhousenyc.com