Black Manhattan

In recent times I've grown less fond of the standard Manhattan because most sweet vermouths seem to taste overly medicinal and herbal. Then someone told me about the Black Manhattan, which replaces the vermouth with the Italian Averna amaro. To me it tastes richer and smoother, with hints of liquorice and caramel.

Black Manhattan

2 oz rye whiskey
1 oz Averna amaro
1 dash orange bitters
A maraschino cherry to garnish

Stir the ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass. Drop in the cherry.

Paper Plane

The Paper Plane, created in Chicago in 2008, has been described as a modern classic, and I won't argue. It's like a whiskey sour with more going on. The proper recipe asks for equal parts of four ingredients: bourbon (I recommend choosing something 100 proof or higher), Amaro Nonino* (an Italian bittersweet liqueur), Aperol, and lemon juice. I prefer it a touch less bitter and citrussy so my amended version dials down the Aperol and lemon.

Paper Plane

0.75 oz bourbon

0.75 oz Amaro Nonino

0.5 oz Aperol

0.5 oz lemon juice

Shake ingredients furiously with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

*Amaro Nonino is made from herbs, spices, fruit, berries and roots enriched with a grape distillate, and aged more than 12 months in casks.