Black Manhattan

A spirit-forward Manhattan riff that trades sweet vermouth for dark, herbal amaro, giving the drink its near-black hue and a bittersweet, cola-and-baking-spice depth. Bartender Todd Smith built it in 2005 at San Francisco's Bourbon & Branch, anchoring rye against the amaro with both aromatic and orange bitters. Stirred down and served up with a brandied cherry, it drinks richer and more brooding than its classic ancestor.

ClassicSpirit-ForwardBitter SipperAfter Dinner

Ingredients

  • 2 ozRye Whiskey
  • 1 ozAmaro
  • 1 dashAngostura Bitters
  • 1 dashOrange Bitters

Garnish: Brandied Cherry

Preparation

Stirred · Coupe · None

  1. 1.

    add

    Combine the rye whiskey, amaro, and both bitters in a mixing glass with ice.

  2. 2.

    stir

    Stir until well chilled and properly diluted, about 20-30 seconds.

  3. 3.

    strain

    Strain into a chilled coupe.

  4. 4.

    garnish

    Garnish with a brandied cherry.

Flavor Profile

spiced
51%
body
36%
herbal
33%
bitter
31%
heat
23%
sweet
23%
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