Black Manhattan

Name: Black Manhattan
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1 serving
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 oz rye whiskey; 1 oz averna amaro; 2 dashes angostura bitters; 1 dash orange bitters; Brandied cherry (garnish)

A darker, more bitter Manhattan substituting Averna amaro for sweet vermouth.

rye-whiskeyEasy~30% ABV

MethodStirGlassCoupeIcenoneGarnishBrandied cherry

Recipe

Serves1

Ingredients

2 ozrye whiskey
1 ozaverna amaro
2 dashesangostura bitters
1 dashorange bitters
Brandied cherrygarnish

Tools

mixing-glassbarspoonstrainerjigger

Instructions

1Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
2Stir for 25-30 seconds until well chilled.
3Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
4Garnish with a brandied cherry.

#modern-classic#rye-whiskey#averna#amaro#manhattan-variation#bitter

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History & Origin

The Black Manhattan was created around 2005 by bartender Todd Smith at Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco. The drink replaces sweet vermouth entirely with Averna, a Sicilian amaro with distinctive cola-like, herbal qualities. The Black Manhattan is significantly more bitter and herbaceous than a standard Manhattan, with Averna's complexity creating a richer, darker drinking experience. The cocktail exemplifies how the amaro boom transformed American cocktail culture and expanded possibilities for spirit-forward stirred drinks.

🛒 Tools for This Recipe

Everything you need to make a great Black Manhattan at home.

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Disclaimer: Recipes are provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. Nutritional information, ABV estimates, and other data are approximations and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods used.

bitter, herbal, cola-like, rich◆Stir