The classic manhattan may well be the most-riffed-upon cocktail in history and for good reason The recipes simplicity and balance lends itself well to substitutions and twists, and this french manhattan is one of our favorites. Its definitely sweeter than a typical manhattan, with an orange curaao like grand marnier (or a triple sec like cointreau, in a pinch) offering an extra dimension of citrus fragrance. Its smoother, too, with cognac bringing a more muted woodiness than bourbon or rye.
