Amaro Flashcards
What does ‘amaro’ translate to in Italian?
Bitter.
What is amaro?
An Italian herbal liqueur that is commonly consumed as an after-dinner digestif.
What is the alcohol content for an amaro?
Between 16% and 40%.
How is amaro produced?
By macerating herbs, roots, flowers, bark, and/or citrus peels in alcohol, either neutral spirits or wine, mixing the filtrate with sugar syrup, and allowing the mixture to age in casks or bottles.
Where do recipes originate from for amaro?
Many commercial bottlers trace their recipe or production to the 19th century. Recipes often originated in monasteries or pharmacies.
How is amaro typically drunk?
Neat, sometimes with a citrus wedge. It can also be drunk on ice or with tonic water.
What is amaro flavored with?
Several (sometimes several dozen) herbs and roots.
What herbs may be used for flavoring amaro?
Gentian, angelica, cardoon, cinchona, lemon balm, lemon verbena, juniper, anise, fennel, zedoary, ginger, mint, thyme, sage, bay laurel, citrus peels, licorice, cinnamon, menthol, cardamom, saffron, rue, wormwood and elderflowers.
What is a medium amaro?
Typically 32% alcohol by volume with an even balance between bitter, sweet, and citrus tastes. (Examples: Montenegro, Ramazzotti, Averna, Lucano, Luxardo Amaro Abano, Amaro Bio, Amaricano.)
What is a fernet amaro?
More sharply bitter than other amari. (Examples: Fernet-Branca, Luxardo Fernet, Amaro Santa Maria Al Monte.)
What is a light amaro?
It is lighter in color than others, usually containing more notes of citrus. (Examples: Amaro Nonino, Amaro Florio, Amaro del Campo, Amaricano Bianca.)
What is an alpine amaro?
Typically around 17% alcohol content that has been flavored with ‘alpine’ herbs, sometimes with a smokey taste. (Examples: Amaro Alpino, Amaro Zara, Amaro Braulio.)
What is a vermouth amaro?
Vermouth amaro is wine-based, while other amaros are typically made from grain-based alcohol. It is sweeter with more citrus and very closely resembles the apertif vermouth. (Examples: Amero, Amaro Don Bairo, Amaro Diesus del Frate.)
What is a carciofo amaro?
Amaro made with artichoke. Usually around 17% alcohol content. They are usually taken as an apertif rather than a digestif. (Examples: Cynar and Carciofo.)
What is a tartufo amaro?
Amaro made with black truffles. Bottled at 30% alcohol. This type of amaro is produced in the central Italian region of Umbria, which is known for its truffles.
