Manhattan Cost Calculator
A Manhattan is almost all spirit, two ounces of rye or bourbon with one ounce of sweet vermouth, so the whiskey bottle price sets most of the cost and the call brand a guest asks for can double it.
Opened vermouth oxidises within a few weeks, so cost the bottle you actually finish rather than the one you pour away; the brandied cherry is counted as the garnish allowance.
Editable example: quantities are a typical standard spec and prices are plausible US wholesale estimates, not supplier quotes or current market data. Replace them with your own.
Example ingredient spec
Volumes are US fl oz; 750 ml = 25.36 oz and one liter = 33.8 oz. Garnish allowance: $0.25.
| Ingredient | Pack size (oz) | Pack price ($) | Used (oz) | Line cost ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rye whiskey (750 ml) | 25.36 | 28.00 | 2 | 2.21 |
| Sweet vermouth (750 ml) | 25.36 | 15.00 | 1 | 0.59 |
| Angostura bitters (16 oz) | 16 | 30.00 | 0.06 | 0.11 |
Example menu price
Example cost per drink: $3.16. At 20% pour cost, the unrounded price is $15.81. Suggested price rounded up to the next $0.50: $16.00, giving 19.76% actual ingredient cost.
These example prices exclude labor, overhead and tax. The ingredient table and suggestion describe the starting spec; edit the calculator to cost your own version.
Formula
Line cost = bottle or pack price ÷ size × amount per drink; drink cost = sum of line costs + garnish. Pour cost % = drink cost ÷ menu price × 100; gross profit = menu price − drink cost; price at target = drink cost ÷ (target/100).
More to cost
Calculated free at thehospitalityinsider.com/cocktail-cost/manhattan