Todd Smith invented the Black Manhattan at Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco around 2005. The structural change is simple: replace the sweet vermouth in a Manhattan with Averna, the Sicilian amaro. The result is darker, more bitter, more bass-heavy. The drink has become a working bartender's standard across modern cocktail bars worldwide.

Ingredients

  • Rye whiskey 60ml
  • Averna amaro 30ml
  • Angostura aromatic bitters 1 dash
  • Orange bitters 1 dash
  • Brandied cherry to garnish

Method

  1. Add rye, Averna, and both bitters to a mixing glass over ice.
  2. Stir long, 25-30 seconds. Longer than a standard Manhattan because Averna's higher sugar needs more dilution to integrate.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe.
  4. Garnish with a brandied cherry on a pick.

Why Averna over sweet vermouth

Sweet vermouth is fortified wine flavoured with herbs and spices. Averna is a Sicilian amaro: bitter, caramel-driven, with notes of dried orange, herbs, and root.

Substituted into a Manhattan, Averna brings:

  • More bitterness on the finish.
  • Caramel and dried-orange depth.
  • A slightly heavier mouthfeel.
  • Less acidity than vermouth.

The drink reads more like an Old Fashioned crossed with a Manhattan than a standard Manhattan.

The rye question

Rye is the canonical choice. The spice cuts through Averna's caramel. Rittenhouse Bottled-in-Bond (100 proof) is the bartender's standard for this drink because the proof gives enough backbone to hold against the amaro.

Sazerac Rye, WhistlePig, or Bulleit Rye also work. Bourbon works but reads more rounded and less interesting; the rye spice is the engine.

Averna alternatives

If you do not have Averna: Ramazzotti is the closest substitute (Italian, similar style). Nonino is acceptable but lighter. Cynar is too vegetal. Fernet is too aggressive.

Averna is available at major Klang Valley liquor specialists for RM 200-260. Worth the bottle if you make Black Manhattans regularly; the bottle also doubles as a digestif neat.

What it should taste like

Spicy on the front from the rye, deep and slightly bitter in the middle from the Averna, with the orange bitters lifting the finish. The drink should drink slowly; this is not a "session" cocktail. The Averna's natural sugar means it will not feel as bracingly dry as a vermouth Manhattan, but it should never read as sweet.

Variations

Black Manhattan with Cynar: use Cynar (artichoke amaro) instead of Averna. Drier, more vegetal, very bitter. Cult variation.

Burnt Sienna: the Averna Black Manhattan with a teaspoon of mezcal. Smoky undertone.

Black Manhattan with Punt e Mes: halfway between Averna and sweet vermouth. The "softer Black Manhattan".

Related

Frequently asked questions

What glass is the Black Manhattan served in?

A chilled coupe, stirred long and strained up. The shallow bowl shows the deep mahogany colour, which sets it apart from a standard ruby-red Manhattan. A nick and nora is also correct. Some bars pour it over a single large rock; we prefer up, since the Averna's body already gives the drink weight.

Can I substitute the Averna?

Ramazzotti is the closest substitute, similar Italian amaro style. Nonino is acceptable but lighter and changes the profile. Cynar is too vegetal and turns the drink into a different cocktail. Fernet is too aggressive. Sweet vermouth turns it back into a regular Manhattan. Averna is stocked at major Klang Valley liquor specialists.

How strong is the Black Manhattan?

Strong. About 28 to 32 percent ABV in the glass after stir-dilution. The 60ml of rye (40 percent, or 50 percent if you use Rittenhouse Bottled-in-Bond) plus 30ml Averna (29 percent) makes this a spirit-forward drink. Sip slowly; do not order a second without food.

Where can I order a Black Manhattan in PJ or KL?

At Dissolved Solids (Damansara Kim, 43-1 Jalan SS20/11, Tue-Sun 15:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-4008 7607) or Soluble Solids (SS2, 50-1 Jalan SS2/24, Wed-Sun 18:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-1682 8651). Both stock rye and Averna. Dissolved Solids tends to use Rittenhouse for the higher-proof bite; ask the bartender if you want a different rye.

What food pairs with the Black Manhattan?

Rich, deep flavours. Grilled ribeye, slow-braised short rib, dark chocolate dessert, blue cheese with honey. Also bridges into a digestif after Italian food. The Averna's caramel and dried-orange notes match aged-meat funk. Avoid light seafood or salads; the drink will steamroll them.