This Red Moon Over Manhattan recipe is a red wine cocktail that is delicious and creative! It’s a take on the classic bourbon cocktail. Made with red wine, this drink will be a hit at your next party!
Much like vintage libations, red wine cocktails also show a massive spike in popularity. And while a red wine in Manhattan may sound unique, it’s really tasty with a great flavor combination!
It’s the perfect mixed drink to get ready for all of that fall entertaining you’ll hopefully be doing!
This drink is made for cozy nights at home with a movie or a good book. It’s sophisticated and smooth. The perfect red wine cocktail to sip under a full moon.
How to make a Red Moon Over Manhattan Cocktail
- Shake all of the ingredients together with ice for 20 seconds.
- Rub the orange peel around the rim of the glass.
- Add in the ice sphere and strain the cocktail over the ice.
- Scoop one cherry to place inside the drink and add two more on a twig or cocktail stirrer to garnish the glass!r
- Enjoy this new classic!
What is in a Red Moon Over Manhattan Cocktail?
A twist on a perfect Manhattan. This drink is made with red wine and bourbon and garnished with orange peel and a maraschino cherry. Here are the ingredients in this cocktail:
- Red Wine
- Bourbon
Why is the drink called a Manhattan?
The Manhattan drink is thought to have originated in the 1860s in a Manhattan Club in Manhattan! It is closely related to the Brooklyn Cocktail which uses dry vermouth instead of sweet vermouth. We call this cocktail a manhattan too because it was inspired by the classic cocktail.
A Red Wine Cocktail
This tasty cocktail is so quick to make it’s great for serving your guests at a gathering. It is fairly low in calories, coming in at less than 150 calories a drink, so win-win! The color is so stunning it’s bound to stand out amongst the crowd!
Tips for Making a Red Moon Over Manhattan Cocktail
- Don’t make these before the guests arrive, or the ice will dilute the drink.
- Use one large ice cube rather than lots of small ones, it won’t melt as fast.
- Shake the cocktail shaker until it has turned ice cold.
- Use whatever red wine is your favorite!
When to Serve a Red Wine Cocktail
This drink is great year-round. Sip it in the evening during happy hour or serve it on any of these occasions:
Halloween Movie Night or Pumpkin Carving Party
Pair it with a giant cheese platter, fruit platter, Thanksgiving cheese platter, or Christmas appetizer.
It also goes well with our chocolate cake, chocolate bourbon brownies, or homemade chocolate truffles.
More Bourbon Cocktail Recipes
If you love bourbon, here are some fantastic bourbon cocktail recipes:
Orange Juice and Bourbon Whiskey
More Wine Cocktails
If you love this red wine cocktail, try these cocktail recipes made with wine too!
Red Wine Sangria
Traditional White Wine Sangria
Ginger and Lemon White Wine Cocktail
This would also make a wonderful Christmas cocktail.
Looking for more? Check out our mixed drinks, great cocktail recipes our favorite brunch recipes, tequila cocktails, gin cocktails, vodka cocktails, and cheap drinks to make at home!
If you have tried this Red Moon Over Manhattan cocktail recipe, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious recipes, cocktails, desserts, and parties!
want to save this?
Enter your email below and I’ll send it directly to your inbox!
Red Moon Over Manhattan Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz red wine
- 1/2 oz bourbon
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1 large round ice sphere
- 3 gourmet maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Shake all of the ingredients together with ice for 20 seconds.
- Rub orange peel around the rim of the glass.
- Add in the ice sphere and strain the cocktail over the ice.
- Scoop one cherry to place inside the drink and add two more on a twig or cocktail stirrer to garnish the glass!
- Enjoy this new classic!
I’m going to a girls night where they are mostly drinking red wine, so trying to tweak my Manhattan recipe for them. The actual recipe at the bottom does not list sweet vermouth. Is that a typo or do you not use it? Trying to get my ratios right. Thanks!
You’re right, that’s confusing. The post is explaining what an actual Manhattan cocktail is: rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters, sweet cherry. For our cocktail and twist on a Manhatten, we don’t use sweet vermouth. What’s in the recipe card is correct. We will update for less confusion.
Delicious! Used 19 crimes Snoop dog
Yummy! I loved this drink. I’m going to hold onto it and make it when my “girls nights” can resume.
This is as pretty to look at as it is delicious to drink! perfection!
This cocktail is delicious! I need to make it again soon!
I’ll be trying this one tonight! I have everything on hand to make it and I love trying new drinks. Thanks!
Love this recipe and loooove the glass that it’s in. Any idea who makes this glassware?
🙂
Attempting to make these for a get together this weekend. I don’t typically buy bourbon, can you recommend which brand you used please?
I like a good Manhattan and when I came across the Red Moon take on an already excellent cocktail I had to try it and might I add the Red Moon Over Manhattan is excellent. I used Cabernet as my red wine of choice and enjoyed this with my dinner. Thank You.
I am so happy you liked it Shane! Thank you for sharing and for the sweet comment. Appreciate it!
Any recommendations on varieties of red wine to use? I would think the choice could influence the final taste quite a bit. I’m going to try something on the dry side first because that’s what I normally have on hand.
Thanks,
Dave
looks like such a cool cocktail!
x
What’s simple syrup?
It’s a mixture of half water and half sugar that you bring to a simmer on the stovetop until the sugar is melted… pretty much it’s sugar water!