Amari Flashcards
Amaro Montenegro
Amaro Montenegro is an Italian bitter liqueur, flavored with floral and citrus notes. Here’s more about it and how to use it in cocktails.
What is Amaro Montenegro?
Amaro Montengero is an Italian amaro or bitter liqueur made in Bologna, Italy. It was invented in 1895 by Stanislao Cobianchi, named after Princess Elena of Montenegro who married the future king of Italy. It’s made with the original 1895 recipe of 40 different herbs, fruits and botanicals. It has a caramel color and a bittersweet, floral flavor.
What does Amaro Montenegro taste like?
Amaro Montenegro tastes more floral than most amari: it’s light and bittersweet with notes of orange a distinct rose petal finish. In fact, it’s the rose aroma that makes it second tier in our personal amari rankings. It’s a bit too much like Grandma’s soap for us, though if you love rose flavor you’ll adore this one. It’s at its best served on the rocks as an aperitif, with soda water, or standing in for Campari in a Negroni.
Cynar
** The bittersweet flavor is full of nuance, with intriguing notes of caramel, toffee, and mint.**
** On the spectrum of amari from very bitter to very sweet, Cynar is somewhere in the middle.**
** Cynar is bittersweet, with notes of caramel, toffee and cinnamon, and an bitter herbal finish. It’s sweeter than other amari, though it’s not as sweet as Aperol. It’s an approachable and easy to drink amaro. With its dark brown color, it’s similar to caramel-flavored amari like Meletti and Averna.**
Averna
The sweet caramel notes and hints of anise and honey make it a great candidate for sipping on the rocks:
** Amaro Averna is tastes spicy and herbal, with caramel, anise, citrus, and honey notes. On the spectrum of amari from very bitter to very sweet,**
** Averna is full of intriguing bittersweet caramel flavor, and we’re always up for another amari to add to our collection!**
Amaro Nonino
It’s unique because it’s made using grappa, infusing it with herbs, fruits and botanicals. The bittersweet liqueur has flavor notes of gentian, citrus and caramel.
Amaro Nonino is equally bitter and sweet, with notes of orange, honey, vanilla, licorice, allspice, mango, pepper, and cocoa. It’s got a unique flavor that’s worth seeking out, less sweet than other amari but still easy to drink.
Are there any Amaro Nonino substitutes? Substitute another dark, herbal and sweet amaro like Amaro Averna, Amaro Meletti, Amaro Tosolin, or Cynar. Oddly enough, the German liqueur Jagermeister is has a similar flavor and works great as a substitute.
Fernet Branca
** Here’s a liqueur that’s so intensely bitter, it’s a wonder that it’s got a worldwide cult following. Meet Fernet Branca! This Italian amaro tastes like bitter black licorice, intensely herbal and spicy.**
** What does Fernet Branca taste like?
Fernet has an aggressive flavor, almost like bitter black licorice. It’s herbaceous and intensely bitter, with a subtly sweet finish.**
Capaletti
** What is Cappelletti?
Cappelletti, aka Aperitivo Cappelletti, is a wine-based Italian red bitter aperitif that’s been produced by the Cappelletti family for four generations. The flavor is like a blend of Aperol and Campari: sweet and herbal, with a bitter finish.**
** Cappelletti tastes sweet and herbal, with a round mouthfeel and subtly bitter finish. It’s like a mashup of Aperol and Campari: most of the sweetness of the former and half the bitterness of the latter. It blends beautifully into drinks.**
Campari
**But its flavor is herbal and ultra bitter!
Campari has a strong bittersweet flavor, with notes of orange peel, cherry, clove, and cinnamon. It’s one of the most bitter liqueurs used in modern drinks.**
Aperol
Aperol is sweet, with a subtle bitter finish. It has strong notes of bitter orange, rhubarb, and herbs. It’s one of the sweetest in the Italian bitter family, so it’s the most palatable and easy to drink. It’s also very low alcohol: it is 22 proof or 11 percent ABV.
