NewYorkFirst.com: Anchor-Hocking Manhattan Glass

Manhattan Revival.

It's rumored that the first Manhattan Cocktail was shaken in 1846, by a Maryland bartender trying to revive an injured duelist. He mixed rye whiskey, sugar syrup and bitters. No word on the duelist, but one can assume he had a fighting chance. From there, the drink traveled to Manhattan, where, in the Gay Nineties, vermouth was substituted for syrup, paving the way for today's recipe.

What makes the Manhattan so great? Properly made, it's sweet but not too; a hint of bitterness appeals to those who drink their whiskey neat. The kick is strong but not overpowering, and only after a few refills do you grasp the potency of the fuel alternative sloshing in your glass. A single maraschino cherry provides enticement to the kid in all of us, like the cherry atop an Ice Cream Sundae.

The Manhattan Cocktail even inspired its own glassware, capturing the play between amber jewel-quality of whiskey and rosy hue of vermouth. This Art Deco Manhattan glassware was first produced by the Anchor Hocking Company in 1938.

The Manhattan pattern is made up of concentric ribs, influenced by the signature skyscrapers of New York. These ribs are pointed so that if you rub your fingernail across them, it will catch on each one and you can hear a little "ting." The 9-ounce Manhattan pieces are heavier than most cocktail glasses because of all the glass that goes into making the ribs, and we are less nervous about using them around clumsy friends.

How Sweet It Is!
Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, comedian Jackie Gleason enjoyed a secondary music career, lending his name to a series of best-selling "mood music" albums with jazz overtones for Capitol Records. The "Great One" knew there was a market for romantic instrumentals. He recalled seeing Clark Gable play love scenes in movies, and the romance was, in his words, "magnified a thousand percent" by background music. Gleason reasoned, "If Gable needs music, a guy in Brooklyn must be desperate!" So, set the stage for romance with this classic collection: lower the lights, mix a couple of drinks, and turn on the tunes.

Bullet Shaker
The Bullet Cocktail Shaker has been revived by people who appreciate its exaggerated depiction of 1930's art deco design in gleaming stainless steel. It's the perfect Depression-era companion to the Manhattan Cocktail glass. The Bullet has a 28-ounce capacity and is constructed with a cover and strainer inside for proper pouring. CLICK HERE for more information.