What Is The Black Manhattan?
The black Manhattan is a classic cocktail made with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and an added twist of Averna Amaro. This Italian liqueur provides the “black” in this drink’s name, as well as an additional depth of flavor that sets it apart from its traditional counterpart.
Most often served on the rocks or neat, the black Manhattan can also be garnished with maraschino cherries for a pop of sweetness to balance out the strong flavors.
What You Need To Make It
To make a classic black Manhattan you will need: 2 ounces rye whiskey, 1 ounce sweet vermouth (preferably Carpano Antica), 1/4 ounce Averna Amaro liqueur, 4 dashes Angostura bitters and one maraschino cherry for garnish. Additionally you will need some ice cubes if serving on the rocks. If desired you can add more Averna in place of bitters for less bitterness.
Instructions On How To Prepare It
Start by filling a mixing glass halfway full with cubed ice, then add all ingredients except for the cherry into your glass and stir until chilled. Pour over fresh ice cubes into your favorite drinking vessel or martini glass and garnish with the maraschino cherry before serving.
Why You Should Give The Black Manhattan Cocktail Recipe A Try!
If you are looking to try something new when it comes to cocktails then look no further than this delicious recipe! Not only is it simple to make but it has enough complexity in flavor that even experienced mixologists will appreciate its unique taste profile. Plus since there are only five ingredients involved making it doesn’t take much time or effort – perfect for busy nights at home!
Tips For Making The Perfect Black Manhattan
For those who really want their drinks to stand out start by using high-quality liquors such as Elijah Craig Rye Whiskey or Redemption Rye Whiskey which have robust flavors that pair nicely with sweet vermouth and amaro liqueurs like Cynar 70 proof or Nonino Quintessentia Amaro di Poli.
Also remember not to overdo it on either ingredient – too much whiskey will overpower while too much amaro may turn bitter so aim towards achieving balance between them without sacrificing flavor intensity.. Lastly feel free experiment adding other types of bitters such as orange peel essence along with a different type of garnish like olives instead if preferred
Black Manhattan Cocktail
Ingredients
- Ingredients:
- - 2 ounces 60 ml rye whiskey
- - 1 ounce 30 ml sweet vermouth
- - 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
Instructions
- Instructions:
- Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes.
- Add the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and Angostura Bitters to the mixing glass and stir until well chilled.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or rocks glass filled with ice cubes.
- Garnish with a brandied cherry or lemon twist/peel if desired before serving.
Glassware
The typical glassware used for a Black Manhattan cocktail is a rocks or old-fashioned glass. This type of glass holds between 8 and 12 ounces, which is the perfect size for this drink. A stemmed martini or coupe glass can also be used depending on preference.
Flavors
The Black Manhattan is a classic cocktail made with a subtle blend of strong, sweet and bitter flavors. The traditional recipe calls for bourbon or rye whiskey as the base spirit, along with two parts sweet vermouth and one part Averna amaro. This combination gives the drink its signature complex flavor profile; notes of oak, spice, caramel and chocolate from the whiskey are complemented by herbal sweetness from the vermouth and bitterness from the amaro.
The unique character of each ingredient really shines through in this drink. The bold flavor of whiskey offers warmth and smoky complexity while sweet vermouth balances it out with delicate herbal notes like cinnamon and clove.
Finally, Averna provides an underlying bitterness that ties all these different elements together into one delicious libation.
