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Black Manhattan
Posted: July 18, 2026
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The Black Manhattan swaps the classic Sweet Vermouth for Averna Amaro — the Sicilian herbal liqueur with its distinctive bittersweet complexity — transforming the Manhattan template into something darker, more brooding, and intensely satisfying. Created by bartender Todd Smith at Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco in 2005, the same bar that later gave us the Kentucky Buck, it demonstrates how one ingredient substitution can completely reimagine a classic. Averna's rich caramel, herbal, and citrus peel notes interplay beautifully with bourbon's natural sweetness, creating a drink that's simultaneously familiar and revelatory.
Instructions
- Combine bourbon, Averna Amaro, and Angostura bitters in a mixing glass filled with ice.
- Stir for 30 seconds until well chilled and diluted.
- Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a Maraschino cherry or an orange twist.