The Mixology Monday theme this month is Digestifs.
Without trying that hard, I seem to have amassed a decent collection of Italian amari, so my first thought was could several of them be put together to be the feature flavor of a new drink. After a couple of experiments (including rejecting Sfumato in the mix for being too outspoken and Nonino for being too shy), I settled on an even blend of CioCiaro (orange and spices) and del Capo (licorice and herbs). For the base, I turned to a bottle of Spanish brandy I had. With its sherry notes, it seemed particularly fitting for the theme.
This acid-free concoction is sweet--fittingly so as an after-dinner drink, but the brightening of an expressed lemon peel or two keeps things balanced. I couldn't resist including a brandied cherry which becomes the dessert at the end of the dessert.
- 2 oz. Spanish brandy
- 1/2 oz. Amaro CioCiaro
- 1/2 oz. Vecchio Amaro del Capo
- generous lemon twist (expressed and discarded)
- brandied cherry garnish
