Originally Posted by
whackyjacky
1st thought - are you using a few dashes of Angostura Bitters ? 2nd - don't be afraid of the vermouth. 1/3 is about right. A Manhattan isn't a Martini. If the drink still sucks, upgrade the vermouth to something like Carpano Antica. You'll be glad you did.
I used Martini & Rossi Rosso. I followed the recipe on the back. I have the bitters and will add next time. You didn't mention the cherry. I tried a little of the juice but it still wasn't the right degree of sweetness. I'll probably stop by the bar tonight and see if one of the bartenders wants to share the formula. Thanks for the tip.