A delicious Black Manhattan, and the story behind it's creation.
See the Elephant Amaro Black Manhattan
Origins of the Black Manhattan
In 2005, Todd Smith was working at a restaurant in San Francisco called Cortez, “drinking and trying to find as much amaro as I could at the time,” he later said, and trying out cocktails with them. Smith went on to open Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco in 2006 and this is where the Black Manhattan really took off. It originated during the early 21st-century craft cocktail revival as a modern twist on the classic Manhattan, replacing traditional sweet vermouth with amaro to create a deeper, bittersweet flavor profile. See the Elephant Amaro is a perfect addition to the Black Manhattan.
Interestingly, the Black Manhattan that Smith created was originally made with 0.5oz of Amaro, but this went against the original specs of a Manhattan which was 2oz whiskey, 1oz sweet vermouth and 2 dashes of bitters, or 2-1-2, which also happens to be the original 1947 area code for Manhattan and why this cocktail was originally called a Manhattan. So to return the specs to 2oz rye whiskey, 1oz See the Elephant Amaro and 2 dashes of bitters is a return to the 2-1-2!
See the Elephant is excited to present a new Black Manhattan cocktail bundle for order in partnership with Castle & Key Distillery and Alchemix Bitters.
See the Elephant Amaro, Castle & Key Restoration Rye Whiskey & Alchemix Bitters
We went looking for the best partners we could find to bring together a Black Manhattan Bundle. We found them. Just what you’ve been looking for!
Like the old American expression of going to “see the elephant,” which means to go out and experience the world firsthand. This Black Manhattan is a must-try. Don’t take our word or anyone else’s for it, you must see for yourself. When we found Castle & Key and Alchemix, we knew we found the right partners to bring this cocktail package together.
See the Elephant Amaro is made by a multigenerational family in southern Italy from locally grown arugula. Named one of the top 10 Essential New School Amari by Punch. Add Castle & Key’s Restoration Rye, a 100-proof Kentucky straight rye whiskey from one of the country’s most iconic distilleries. Plus Alchemix orange and aromatic bitters. Each brings their own component to make this wonderful cocktail.
It’s worth trying. See for yourself. Castle & Key brings the backbone. See the Elephant brings the flavor. Alchemix ties it all together.
Three brands. Three great bottles. The best Black Manhattan you can make for yourself at home! Now available together for the first time.
All three bottles will ship together.