The reverse manhattan is a clever inversion of a classic recipe, with sweet vermouth taking center stage and rye (or bourbon) playing second fiddle. Its an amazing exploration of all the complex flavors of vermouth. As with all vermouth-forward cocktails, make sure you have fresh stuff; old vermouth has a tendency to taste more oxidized and metallic. Aromatic bitters are the standard, but you can bring out some different qualities of the vermouth with various bitters substitutions. Chocoloate bitters bring out the vanilla notes of a vermouth like carpano antica, while spiced mole or cardamom bitters highlight baking-spice flavors.
