Black Manhattan
A Manhattan made with the bittersweet Italian amaro Averna in place of sweet vermouth. Darker, richer, less sweet.
- Time
- 4 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Coupe
- Strength
- 2.7 UK units
How to make a Black Manhattan
- Chill the glass. Put the coupe in the freezer, or fill it with ice and water, for a few minutes while you make the drink.
- Build in the mixing glass. Add the rye, Averna and both bitters to a mixing glass and fill it two-thirds with ice.
- Stir until cold. Stir for 30 to 40 seconds, until the outside of the glass is frosted and the drink feels silky when it touches your lip.
- Strain and garnish. Strain into the chilled coupe and drop in a cherry. The drink should look nearly black with a little reddish edge in the light.
- Glass
- CoupeNo coupe? A martini glass, or serve over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- Cocktail cherry on a pickOr: A wide orange twist.
What you need to make a Black Manhattan
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Mixing glassAny sturdy jug or pint glass works.
Bar spoonA long teaspoon does the job.
StrainerA Hawthorne strainer fits over the tin or glass.
Bottles we'd use
- AvernaThe classic choice for this drink. Amaro Montenegro or Ramazzotti are alternatives but lighter.Find it on Amazon
- A rye whiskeyRittenhouse is the bar standard. Sazerac Rye is easier to find in the UK.Find it on Amazon
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The Black Manhattan story
Bartender Todd Smith is widely credited with it, around 2005 at Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco. He swapped sweet vermouth for Averna, a Sicilian amaro, and the drink spread through cocktail bars within a few years.
Averna is thick, caramelly and bitter, so the drink drinks richer than a standard Manhattan. Rye keeps it dry and peppery. If you prefer it softer, use bourbon and one dash of orange bitters instead of two.
Black Manhattan: your questions answered
What is in a Black Manhattan?
A Black Manhattan is made with 50 ml rye whiskey, 25 ml Averna, 2 dashes of Angostura bitters and 2 dashes of orange bitters. Garnish: cocktail cherry on a pick.
Is a Black Manhattan shaken or stirred?
A Black Manhattan is stirred, not shaken. Stirring with ice chills and dilutes it while keeping the drink clear and smooth. Shaking would cloud it and add tiny air bubbles, which suits citrus drinks but not this one.
How strong is a Black Manhattan?
Made to this recipe, a Black Manhattan contains about 2.7 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Black Manhattan in?
Serve a Black Manhattan in a coupe. No coupe? A martini glass, or serve over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
