Black Manhattan
When I’m feeling contemplative and wanting something to sip while I think, a whiskey cocktail is usually where I land and the Manhattan is a classic. It’s timeless and very much a take-the-edge-off kind of drink. I didn’t used to like Manhattans because of the sweet vermouth. Turned out, I had only been served bad vermouth. What I’ve learned with cocktails, much as with cooking, is that it simply comes down to your ingredients. If you watched Stanley Tucci’s Quarantine Negroni video, he makes a point about using good vermouth! Anyhow, there’s not much to a Manhattan so it starts and ends with your choice of whiskey and vermouth. Like Tucci, I prefer Carpano’s Antica in cocktails that call for sweet vermouth. When I want to make my Manhattan a little more robust, I opt for a Black Manhattan, in which case, Averna Amaro takes the place of vermouth.
What is Averna Amaro, you ask? An Amaro is an Italian liqueur flavored with herbs, flowers, citrus peels, and other botanicals and is often used to aid digestion. Unlike vermouth, which is wine based, Amari (plural for Amaro) are typically made with grain based alcohols. They are often bitter and leave a bit of a coating on the tongue. Amaro in Italian simply means “bitter”. Campari and Aperol are part of the Amari family. Unlike those orange colored liqueurs, Averna is dark, reminiscent of coffee or cola. I also wouldn’t describe its taste as being very bitter. It’s actually fairly smooth. It’s produced in Sicily and its recipe is a secret concoction of over 60 ingredients. Some taste anise, coffee, or orange zest. Others say it’s similar to a cola or root beer. In Italy, it’s often served on the rocks or in soda water after dinner. When paired with whiskey it makes for a heavier version of the Manhattan while still a smooth sip. I referred to Difford’s Guide for the basic recipe. For my cocktail, I used Templeton Rye Whiskey. Manhattans are typically made with rye but bourbon works just fine. Bourbon is a little sweeter so it depends on if you want the classic spice of a rye. I stirred this drink up on a rainy afternoon and enjoyed it in my reading chair while thinking about this strange quarantine life. Be sure to serve this drink up in a coupe glass and don’t forget the cherry!
Black Manhattan
Ingredients:
2 oz Templeton Rye Whiskey, or whiskey of your choice
1 oz Averno Amaro
1 dash Angostura Bitters
1 dash Orange Bitters
Method:
Stir ingredients in a mixing glass with ice until well chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with cocktail cherry.
