Bulleit bourbon is my usual go-to for brown spirits, and I usually drink it neat or with a few ice cubes.  I love manhattans, but would never use a good whiskey like Bulleit.  There is a local distillery here in Vermont called Whistlepig that makes a tremendous, award winning bourbon.  I rarely drink it, however, as it is like $95 for a 750 ml bottle.  Delicious stuff though.