When you’re in the mood for something dark with a touch of mystery this holiday, may we suggest,  Black Manhattans served on MidCentury Nickel-Plated And Black Glass Drinks Cart; so classic, so chic!

First, An Elegant French Mid-century Nickel-plated Oval-form Drinks/bar Cart With Black Glass Trays 1950's. The collapsible nickel-plated frame fitted with 2 removable black glass trays with reticulated gallery; excellent condition with minor overall wear height: 27 1/2" width: 24 3/4" depth: 14 1/2"

"Ain't we swank!" A similar drinks cart makes quite the impression on Eileen Heckert's character, the distraught, Hortense Daigle, in the 1957 film noir classic: The Bad Seed. ( Ms Heckart was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. )

Our all-black-themed affair has to have the perfect moody drink: The Black Manhattan! This version of the Manhattan was created by San Francisco bartender,Todd Smith, during his time at Bourbon & Branch. The original recipe called for bourbon, but this cocktail contains rye whiskey and dashes of two different bitters. Like a classic film noir femme fatale, this cocktail adds allure and mystique.

This drink calls for Averna which is a relatively sweet amaro, very dark reddish-brown and sweeter than many sweet vermouths. It's also moderately bitter, with an herbal and orange peel intensity that's only just held in balance by the sweetness. (see Cold Glass )

The Black Manhattan

Ingredients: 
2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey (Buffalo Trace, Bulleit 10)
1 oz Averna
1–2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 dash orange bitters (optional)

Instructions: 

Stir all ingredients with ice until cold. 
Strain into a well-chilled cocktail stem. 
Garnish with a brandied cherry.

^jh