Veteran mixologist Todd Smith created the Black Manhattan when he worked at Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco. It’s a moody, flavorful twist on a classic Manhattan, with dark amaro (Smith calls for Averna) taking the place of sweet vermouth, and spicy rye in place of bourbon.
It’s a genius recipe that hits all the right notes: smooth, sweet, faintly herbal, and a little bit of spice and citrus from the rye and bitters.