Black Manhattan Recipe

Chill glass

Place a coupe or Nick & Nora glass (or chilled rocks glass if preferred) in the freezer or fill with ice water to chill while you prepare the cocktail.

Combine ingredients

In a mixing glass add 2 oz bourbon or rye, 1 oz Averna (or other dark amaro), 2 dashes Angostura bitters and 1 dash orange bitters (if using). If you prefer a slightly sweeter cocktail, add 1/4 teaspoon simple syrup.

Add ice and stir

Fill the mixing glass with ice (large cubes are best). Stir gently and continuously for 20–30 seconds until the mixture is well chilled and slightly diluted (the mixing glass should feel very cold).

Prepare glass

Dump the ice water if you used it to chill the glass. If using a rocks glass with a large ice cube, leave the cube in the glass.

Strain and garnish

Double-strain the stirred cocktail into the chilled coupe or over the large ice cube in the rocks glass. Garnish with 1 Luxardo or brandied cherry, skewered on a pick and dropped into the drink (or expressed orange peel if you prefer a citrus aroma).

Serve

Serve immediately. Sip slowly to appreciate the interplay of the whiskey backbone with the herbal, bittersweet amaro and aromatic bitters.