LCBO Food & Drink Autumn 2021

THAT’S AMARO!

After dinner Purists will usually opt to drink straight amaro as their dessert, but with its layers of flavour and underlying laid-back sweetness, amaro is a great base for dessert cocktails and spiked coffee.

1845 40 9 The year Fernet-Branca, one of the oldest on the market, was invented by a Milanese herbalist looking for a cure for cholera. The number of botanicals in Amaro Montenegro’s secret formula, per- fected over a century ago. The number of basic styles of amaro, ranging from light to intensely bitter. AMARO BY THE NUMBERS In Italy, there are too many brands of amaro to count. But here are some numbers we know for sure.

Did you know? Although many have never heard of a fernet other than Branca, “fer- 1 Shake amaro, cream and espres- so over ice for 45 seconds. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and garnish with chocolate sticks. Makes 1 drink CREMA CORRETTO This simple drink is inspired by Italian café corretto, which literally means “fixing” coffee by adding a splash of liquor to it. 2 oz Amaro Amara d’Arancia Rossa 1 oz whipping cream 3/4 oz espresso 2 chocolate sticks, like Pocky, for garnish

net” actually refers to an entire style of amaro—the bitterest kind. Fernet-Branca is the most famous of these, thanks to a global cult following, especially in Argenti- na, where fernet and Coke is the nation’s favourite cocktail.

Digestivo trifecta

No two amaros are the same, but this is a particularly diverse selection. What they all have in common is that they’ll hit the spot after a special celebratory meal.

Fernet-Branca LCBO 220145, 500 mL, $23.75

Poli Vaca Mora Amaro LCBO 662726, 700 mL, $41.60

Amaro Amara d’Arancia Rossa LCBO 10752, $45.95 Made with Sicilian blood oranges, this light and aromatic spirit is brilliant over ice. Alternatively, give an old cocktail new life by swapping it in for orange liqueur.

Earthy, bold and intensely bitter, Fernet-Branca is definitely not for everyone. It has its loyal fans, though— to the point where some bars in the United States even have it on tap.

One of the best straight-sipping amaros we’ve tried, this North- ern Italian expression is excep- tionally dry and has a fresh and minty flavour profile.

138

AUTUMN 2021 FOOD & DRINK