The Brooklyn cocktail offers a slightly more complex and bittersweet taste profile compared to the Manhattan, primarily due to the addition of Maraschino cherry and Amaro. While both cocktails share a whiskey base and a vermouth component, the Brooklyn's use of dry (white) vermouth and the distinct flavors of Maraschino and Amaro give it a unique taste that distinguishes it from the sweeter and more straightforward flavor of the Manhattan.