Amaro from the Island: Averna and Citrus Cocktail

Somehow I can’t leave Sicily behind and I’m hooked on Averna Amaro Siciliano.  Call me pazza per gli amari.

 

I love this genre of liquor; with its complex interplay of flavors, Averna in particular has captured both my heart and palate.  And I’m not the only one.  Averna has captivated the drinking public since its introduction in 1868, and with 90 points, the liquor took Gold at the 2014 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition.  

 

 

Although classed as an amaro, or “bitter”, Averna is, like many amari, surprisingly sweet.  It is a delight on the rocks or neat, even lightly warmed.  Once thought mostly as a digestivo, today’s inventive mixologists are making good use of Averna in mixed drinks like the Black Manhattan and Beatnik.  It blends particularly well with spirits such as bourbon and vodka, and pairs beautifully with any citrus.  Its warm green notes are an absolute delight with ginger beer.   

 

There are warm days ahead.  Here are two cocktails, either of which would be welcome on a hot Indian Summer afternoon.  Or if you are planning a brunch get-together, serve these instead of the usual Bloody Mary cocktail.  With their shared notes of bright citrus and the warmth of ginger beer these are the perfect way to introduce your guests to the delights of one of Italy’s most famous amari. 

 

Heaped with thinly sliced citrus, this is a light and refreshing brew.  I have called for blood orange juice.  Although blood oranges are out of season in the northern hemisphere, some stores are now importing them from New Zealand and Australia.  If you can not find blood oranges, you may substitute full bodied fresh orange juice.

•1 ½ oz. Averna Amaro Siciliano

•1 oz. blood orange juice

•Ginger beer

•blood orange, lemon, and lime, sliced paper-thin, for garnish

 

Place one or two slices of citrus at the bottom of a rocks or highball glass.  Fill the glass ¾ full with ice. Slip more slices of citrus up the sides of the glass, wedging them between the ice and the glass.  Pour in the Averna and blood orange juice, and top with ginger beer.  Finish with more citrus slices.  Serve at once.

 

serves 1

This sophisticated and eye-catching cocktail starts with the rich fruitiness of muddled blackberries, a sweet counterpoint to the astringency of the orange-infused vodka and lemon juice.  The drink is further mellowed by the sweet basil simple syrup.  Basil, with its distinct note of anise, happens to be the perfect complement to the licorice notes of the Averna, and it lifts and brightens the flavor of the blackberries.  With the warm finish of the ginger beer, this multi-layered cocktail is sure to make converts of your guests.

 

•⅓ cup blackberries, plus berries to garnish

•1 oz.  Averna Amaro Siciliano

•1 oz. premium orange flavored vodka, such as Grey Goose

•½ oz. fresh lemon juice

•1 oz. basil simple syrup (recipe follows)

•2 oz. Ginger beer

•basil sprig to garnish

 

Fill a rocks glass ¾ full with ice cubes.  Set aside.  Drop ⅓ cup of blackberries into a cocktail shaker and muddle well.  Pour Averna, orange flavored vodka, lemon juice, basil simple syrup, and a few ice cubes into the shaker and shake for 30 seconds.  Strain into the rocks glass, top with ginger beer, and garnish with a few berries and a sprig of basil.  Serve at once.

 

Generously flavored with basil, this syrup is wonderful drizzled over summer fruit, especially watermelon, or as a sweetening agent for cocktails, lemonade, iced tea, and long drinks.  Try this before summer and basil season are over.

 

•2 generous cups basil leaves, well packed

•2 cups granulated sugar

•1 cup water

 

Rinse the basil leaves, and remove from stems.  Discard stems.  Place leaves on towels to remove most of the water.  Combine basil leaves, sugar and water in a medium saucepan.  Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has come to a gentle simmer.  The mixture will be completely clear with no granules or gritty texture when sugar is dissolved.  Remove from the heat, and set aside for 10 minutes.  Strain into a storage container with a tight fitting lid.  Discard basil.  Store in the refrigerator 5 to 7 days.

 

Averna Amaro Siciliano is available at Mission Wine & Spirits (missionliquor.com), BevMo! (bevmo.com) and other fine liquor stores.