Peanut Butter Manhattan: a Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey Recipe (2024)

This dry peanut butter manhattan recipe is made with peanut butter whiskey, dry vermouth, and a dash of bitters. It’s a unique variation of a classic co*cktail that’s bursting with peanut butter flavor.

You may not think about a peanut butter manhattan when you first get a bottle of peanut butter whiskey. But it’s one you’ll make again and again.

Backstory

With a bottle of Skrewball peanut butter whiskey in hand, my peanut butter chocolate ganache drip cake inspired me to make a peanut butter cup co*cktail. But no matter how I combined Skrewball peanut butter whiskey and chocolate liqueur, I couldn’t re-create the rich and creamy chocolate and peanut butter combination I love.

Update: April 2022: I did make a peanut butter cup co*cktail for the 52 weeks of co*cktails challenge. But this peanut butter manhattan is a better use of your peanut butter whiskey.

About peanut butter whiskey

Skrewball was the first peanut butter whiskey. It supposedly came about after the Skrewball founder, Steven Yeng, created a peanut butter and whiskey co*cktail at his bar and restaurant. Since then, other distillers have started making peanut butter whiskeys following the success of Skrewball.

Tips and tricks

Making a manhattan

The classic manhattan recipe is made with two ounces of rye or bourbon whiskey, one ounce of sweet vermouth, and a dash or two of bitters. Stir with ice, and then serve over ice in a lowball glass or neat in a coupe.

Tip from the wise quacker: The general rule of thumb is that co*cktails with citrus juices should be shaken. And co*cktails with only liquor should be stirred, because shaking makes for a cloudy co*cktail.

Peanut butter manhattans and co*cktail tasting

The main goal of tasting co*cktail variations is to figure out which one you like best. Full stop.

The peanut butter manhattan with the classic manhattan ratio was too sweet. So next we tried a dry peanut butter manhattan using the same ratio of peanut butter whiskey to dry vermouth. Finally, we tried a “perfect manhattan” using one half ounce each of dry and sweet vermouth.

If this were Goldilocks, the perfect peanut butter manhattan would have been just right. But it’s the dry manhattan recipe that brings out the brightest, nutty flavor from the peanut butter whiskey.

I encourage you to try this taste test for yourself. Make one classic, one dry, and one perfect, and see which one you prefer. And, if you really love peanut butter, compare Skrewball peanut butter whiskey with others.

As an aside, while the martini is classically made with dry vermouth, you can also make a “perfect martini” with an equal split between dry and sweet vermouth. There’s no right or wrong. It’s about finding out what you like.

Garnish ideas

You can use the standard co*cktail cherry garnish for this peanut butter manhattan, or make my peanut butter cookies.

For dessert co*cktails and more decadent drinks, mini peanut butter cups will work. Or rim your glass with a rim of fine chopped peanuts mixed with sugar.

What to serve with a peanut butter manhattan

With dry vermouth, this peanut butter whiskey co*cktail isn’t necessarily a dessert co*cktail. So, if you’re a peanut butter lover, sip a peanut butter whiskey drink alongside:

• swimming rama tofu (with peanut sauce)
• peanut butter chocolate ganache drip cake
• chocolate peanut butter bonbons

FAQs

Other peanut butter whiskey drinks

If you’re wondering what else to make peanut butter whiskey, here are a few ideas:

• Combine equal parts of peanut butter whiskey and liqueur like Chambord for a peanut butter and jelly co*cktail.
• Make a peanut butter old-fashioned. Combine two ounces of peanut butter whiskey, one ounce of simple syrup, and a dash or two of Angostura bitters.
• Try a peanut butter whiskey espresso martini with an ounce each of whiskey, espresso, coffee liqueur, and chocolate bitters.
• Make a coconut peanut butter co*cktail.

Check out other uglyducklingbakery co*cktail recipes like the Lady Bridgerton Empress gin co*cktail, a gin espresso martini, or a creamy espresso martini with Baileys. Manhattan lovers should make this perfect brandy manhattan.

Recipe

What’s next

If you make this peanut butter manhattan, please leave a comment and rating here. Pretty please.

Love co*cktails and want to explore more? Read all about classic co*cktails and bartender basics or join this year’s 52 weeks of co*cktails challenge!

You’re an adventurous home cook looking for inspiration in your weeknight meals and weekend baking. Get that inspiration here: