Black Manhattan recipe
A Manhattan's darker, bittersweet cousin, built with amaro instead of sweet vermouth.
Method: Stir ·
Glass: Coupe glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Martini Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Rye Whiskey
- 1 oz Amaro Averna
- 1 dash Angostura Bitters
- 1 dash Orange Bitters
How to make a Black Manhattan
- Chill a coupe glass.
- Add rye, amaro, and bitters to a mixing glass full of ice.
- Stir until the drink is deeply chilled and lightly diluted.
- Strain into the chilled coupe.
- Express orange oil over the surface and garnish with a cherry.
Garnish
Brandied cherry and expressed orange peel.
Pro tip
Rye's peppery edge keeps the amaro from reading like dessert. Bourbon works, but choose a high-rye bourbon if you have one.
History of the Black Manhattan
Bartender Todd Smith created the Black Manhattan at Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco in 2005. It became a modern classic because it shifts one familiar Manhattan ingredient without losing the drink's essential shape.
Flavour profile
Bitter, Caramel, Herbal, Warm
Variations
- Bourbon Black Manhattan — Use a rich bourbon for a rounder, softer finish.
- Fernet Manhattan — Use 3/4 oz Averna and 1/4 oz Fernet-Branca for extra bitterness.
- Toronto Black Manhattan — Add 1/4 oz maple syrup and use Canadian rye.
Practise making the Black Manhattan in the free Virtual Bar game.