Black Manhattan

If you can’t get a hold of Averna, you can try subbing it with Ramazzotti Amaro. Other amari might also work, but your mileage may vary, plus, you’ll be making a different cocktail at that point.

Amaro Montenegro or even Amaro Nonino will bump up the orange flavors, if that’s where you want to take this drink, though be wary of losing the body and texture that Averna brings. 

Some versions of this recipe use bourbon instead of rye whiskey. Feel free to compare the two and see which one you like best. Since this cocktail has only a few ingredients, it’s a perfect opportunity to see how much each selection matters when making your recipes.

Yet another prime example of a modern classic being created by swapping one ingredient in a recipe for another. In this case, vermouth was replaced by Averna, a bittersweet amaro which brings chocolate notes, a hint of spice, and a heavier body. A dash of orange bitters wraps up the recipe change.

As with other recipes in the Old Fashioned category, don’t be afraid to alter the ratio of spirit to amari. Increasing the amari will provide a lower ABV cocktail that is less spirit forward. Conversely, you can create a much drier cocktail with a hint of chocolate and orange by increasing the whiskey.

The Black Manhattan was created in 2005 at San Francisco bar Bourbon & Branch by bartender Todd Smith.