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Amari

AMARO ITALY Amaro Santa Maria al Monte Naturale Liqueur #30138806 / 1L Santa Maria al Monte, founded by Nicola Uignale in Genova in 1892 and at 40% alcohol, is deeply complex with loads of spicy detail in the mouth and a long, bitter close. It offers amazing intensity and length. While a fernet-style liqueur, it beautifully balances bitterness, herbaceousness, and sweetness and while compellingly complex, this liqueur distinguishes itself with pronounced mint on the finish. Try serving neat, added to coffee or mineral water. Amaro Sfumato Rabarbaro #30185713 / 750ml The profile of this amaro marries a dark smokiness with nuanced bitter woodsiness from alpine herbs and notes of sweet alpine berries. The taste is delicate, sweet berry fruit and bitter rhubarb. The production of a rabarbaro liqueur by the Trentino-Alto amari and aperitivi producer, Cappelletti, dates back almost a century. Straight or on the rocks, this makes a wonderful digestif. BOOMSMA HOLLAND, FRIESLAND Boomsma Clerkampster Cloosterbitter Liqueur #30149802 / 750ml This herbal bitter is produced by Dutch genever distiller Boomsma. Cloosterbitter is based on a 15th century recipe, made with a blend of 17 herbs and plants found in the Frisian meadows during the month of May. Delicious chilled on the rocks, in a mixed drink or in cocktails. “Tangy and sweet in the mouth, the ethereral softness complements the gentle herbal flavor that elaborates each sip before finishing with a touch of bitterness.” 91pts Excellent Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2016 Boomsma Frisian Beerenburger Herbal Bitter #30187126 / 750ml An 11-herb tincture similar to Cloosterbitter but the botanicals are different. Full-bodied herbal bitter made by adding herbs to genever with notes of coriander, licorice, gentian, juniper berry and laurel. Has a smooth, yet bitter, finish. It is bracing neat, chilled and on the rocks—also a perfect bitter component in a whiskey-based cocktail.

LEOPOLD BROTHERS DENVER, COLORADO Leopold Aperitivo #30149279 / 750ml The Leopold brothers have gone back to the drawing board and created an all-natural version of the bitter aperitivo that uses real cochineal to color the liquid and brings a much bolder, bitter flavor. Sweet and bitter, with a citrus overlay, more earthy and floral than other aperitivos on the market. It mixes like a DREAM into a Negroni and works wonders in an Americano. If you think you’ve got the Negroni cocktail mastered, think again. Leopold “Fernet Leopold” Highland Amaro #30134688 / 750ml The Leopold Brothers are at it again—this time with a fantastic new Fernet Amaro. This thing is loaded with spearmint and packs a lovely bitter finish. The nose is complex, with layers of mint, cocoa nib, lavender, vanilla, and a hint of smoke. A palate of ginger, hops, bergamot, rose, smoke, and mint make this cult Amaro worth diving into. Gold Medal 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

MONTENEGRO BOLOGNA, ITALY Montenegro Amaro #30133840 / 750ml

Traditional Amaro produced since 1885. Made using over 40 herbs from around the world, bottled at 23% vol, Amaro Montenegro uses a distinct soaking and distillation process which results in a liquor sweet in taste with a slightly bitter finish. The outstanding character is the sweetness of tangerine/mandarin peel. Best straight, with seltzer and lemon rind, or in various combinations in modern cocktails. If you need to express citrus notes in

your cocktail this is the Amaro to choose. 97pts “Top 50 Spirits 2014”, Wine Enthusiast

AN ITAL IAN INSTITUTION. Few things are more Italian than a glass of amaro. Dating back centuries, this herbal liqueur was first crafted by monks believing it had supernatural powers. Amaro Montenegro quickly became a cultural icon with legendary Italian Poet Gabriele D’Annunzio famously calling it the “liqueur of virtues.” The delicious amaro could barely keep up with demand, expanding to a new distillery in 1906. Production briefly stopped during WWII, but quickly resumed thereafter. #1Amaro in Italy

CARDAMARO ITALY Cardamaro Vino Amaro #30105131 / 750ml

Producer Giovanni Bosca uses estate wine as the base for his Amari. After infusing the wine and other botanicals with cardoon and Blessed Thistle, the distillate rests in new oak for at least six months. 34 proof, low for typical Amari, and less bitter than many with a smooth, nutty, candied winter spice quality to it. Cardamaro is one of the most unique and interesting Amari available. An absolutely fantastic price for a high quality, delicious Amari and a perfect gateway into the world of Italian bitters. 91pts Excellent Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2016

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