Black Manhattan Recipe: Your New Fave Cocktail!

Your new favorite drink for watching the seasons change!
The Black Manhattan cocktail recipe with rye, amaro, citrus and aromatic bitters. Perfect for sipping at a fall party. a delicious black manhattan recipe Get the full recipe on Jojotastic.com

This past weekend was all about tidying up the house and getting cozy. I definitely feel a briskness in the air that signals a transition into fall for us here in Seattle. The mornings just smell different. In the fall I tend to turn to bourbon-based cocktails, especially ones where rye is the star. A recent love of mine is the Black Manhattan cocktail. Typically made as a 2:1 ratio of rye and vermouth, for this recipe we swapped the vermouth with amaro for a flavor that’s more bitter + sweet. Behold, my new favorite sip for lounging in my Eames chair and watching the seasons change!

The Black Manhattan cocktail recipe with rye, amaro, citrus and aromatic bitters. Perfect for sipping at a fall party. a delicious black manhattan recipe Get the full recipe on Jojotastic.com

Meet the Black Manhattan

The Black Manhattan cocktail was created by Todd Smith, a bartender at the famed Bourbon & Branch bar in San Fransisco. This variation on the traditional Manhattan cocktail features bittersweet Averna amaro replacing the sweet vermouth. It also incorporates a second type of bitters.

Whether to use bourbon or rye in a Manhattan

When it comes to bourbon vs. rye, I don’t really discriminate. Rye tends to feel more appropriate for fall because the flavor profile is a bit spicier. If you’ve got bourbon on hand, that will work here just fine, too. The key to making this a Black Manhattan is the introduction of a bittersweet flavor profile.

The Black Manhattan cocktail recipe with rye, amaro, citrus and aromatic bitters. Perfect for sipping at a fall party. a delicious black manhattan recipe Get the full recipe on Jojotastic.com

There’s something that I love about ordering a tiny, strong whiskey drink when we go out. It forces me to slow down and consider what I’m drinking, to really savor the balance and notes of the cocktail. If you’re looking to branch out from your trusty old fashioned, this Black Manhattan recipe is a great way to do so.

The Black Manhattan cocktail recipe with rye, amaro, citrus and aromatic bitters. Perfect for sipping at a fall party. a delicious black manhattan recipe Get the full recipe on Jojotastic.com

The Black Manhattan Cocktail

Your new favorite drink for watching the seasons change!
Prep Time 3 minutes
Total Time 3 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1
Calories 402 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Combine ingredients in a mixing glass and stir with ice. Strain into the double old fashioned glass of your choice (I used these glasses).

Nutrition

Calories: 402kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 10gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 577mgFiber: 19gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 127IUVitamin C: 39mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 5mg
Keyword bourbon, cocktail, drinks, manhattan
Tried this recipe?Tag @jojotastic on Instagram & tag #jojotastic!
The Black Manhattan cocktail recipe with rye, amaro, citrus and aromatic bitters. Perfect for sipping at a fall party. a delicious black manhattan recipe Get the full recipe on Jojotastic.com

This is the type of cocktail that’d I’d make for friends when we’re unexpected hanging out at the house en route to dinner. I love that the Black Manhattan feels like more of a “grown up” cocktail, even though it’s so easy to make.

The Black Manhattan cocktail recipe with rye, amaro, citrus and aromatic bitters. Perfect for sipping at a fall party. a delicious black manhattan recipe Get the full recipe on Jojotastic.com

So what do you think of our Black Manhattan recipe? Let us know if you like our cocktail recipe!! We hope you’re enjoying the change of season!

Photography & styling by Jojotastic, recipe by Phyllis Wang. Get more recipes here!

Behind The Blog

Joanna Hawley-McBride is a Pacific Northwest-based social media strategist, content creator, and former textile designer. Joanna is the founder and editor-in-chief of Jojotastic, a lifestyle blog focused on Joanna’s work-in-progress cabin, finding the best pair of underwear through #UnderwearThesis, and empowering women to explore nature — all in her signature unfiltered style. Her work has been featured in Domino, CNBC, and Eating Well.

Let's stay in touch:

Shop my picks on Amazon

Shop now

Please note that I use affiliate links at times here, as well as on my social media accounts. This means that if you click on a link to a product and purchase that product, I may receive a commission based on your purchase. I only feature products that truly inspire me. Any products that have been gifted to Jojotastic for review are noted at the bottom of the post. Sponsored posts are noted as such. All opinions are my own and always will be! Thanks for supporting content that keeps Jojotastic going.

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating