I’ve seen some interest in Black Manhattans recently. Even the name is intriguing, but the cocktail is actually quite simple.

Black Manhattan

* 2 ounces bourbon
* 1 ounce Averna
* 1 dash Angostura bitters
* Maraschino cherry for garnish

Combine ingredients in an ice-filled mixing glass and stir until cold. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

The Black Manhattan is basically a classic Manhattan that uses Averna in place of the sweet vermouth, giving it a richer, more complex flavor. It won’t appeal to everyone but if you like amari in general, you’ll probably enjoy this recipe.

There’s a lot of room for experimentation here. Just as you can play around with the lighter fortified wines in place of the vermouth in a Martini-style cocktail, herbal liqueurs like Averna generally work very well with bourbon and rye. Wikipedia offers a few others to get you started:

Photo by Steven E. Pav, via Wikipedia