black manhattan

The black manhattan is a broody, strong, and wonderfully complex cocktail. Expect notes of dark cola, bitter cocoa, licorice, orange zest, and dried herbs as you sip and swirl!

We have a new love for amari. I’ve become border-line obsessed with all the different types and have done a lot of deep dives in learning, tasting, and most importantly, experimenting with their seemingly infinite flavors. 

My biggest takeaway: amari aren’t that bitter! I was always so afraid of the intense poison-like bitterness that I avoided this enormous and amazing category of spirits. 

More often than not, amari are soft, sweet, filled with earthy, herbal, citrusy flavors and a gentle (yet oddly refreshing) touch of bitterness. And that’s what I love about the Black Manhattan in particular! 

Averna is sweet, thick, and ever so slightly bitter. It tastes like an elixir of bitter cocoa, licorice, and mountain herbs.

When it’s combined with sweet vanilla-scented bourbon and a few dashes of bitters, it’s a heady combination. The black manhattan is broody, strong, and wonderfully complex. As you sip and sniff, notes of dark cola, licorice, orange zest, and dried herbs slowly unfold. 

Use a good bourbon, but not your best here. The cocktail is sweet and the textural and aromatic nuances of a really good Bourbon will be lost.

As always, experiment! If you don’t have Averna, try some other amari with similar alcohol and sugar levels-- I share a handful that will work below!

ingredients:

Tip: Buy Luxardo cherries for the most decadent, delicious, beautiful cocktail garnish. You won’t regret it!

how to make a black manhattan:

Stir everything in a shaker filled with ice.

Strain into a coupe.

Enjoy!

what is a black manhattan?

It’s a variation on the classic Manhattan cocktail, where sweet vermouth is substituted with Averna amaro. The cocktail is darker in color and flavor and offers more aromatic complexity, thanks to the Averna.

Can I use rye whiskey?

Absolutely! Rye is often used instead of bourbon. We prefer the softer, sweeter profile of bourbon alongside the Averna. 

With rye, expect the cocktail to have a spicier profile and leaner texture.

make this black manhattan cocktail your own:

Substitute Averna with other amari, like Ramazzoti, Meletti or Amaro Nonino

Try different whiskeys: Rye, wheat whiskey, Irish whisky, Scotch. You never know what it’ll taste like until you stir it up and try it!

Garnish with an orange twist, rosemary sprig, or homemade cocktail cherry!

Serve it on the rocks in a lowball glass

more amari cocktails to try:

campari spritz

jungle bird

mezcal negroni

paper plane

tequila negroni

white negroni

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