Amaro Montenegro Is Having a Moment in Delaware

A bitter liquor from Italy, Amaro Montenegro is becoming more popular with its botanical base and various spices. 

Libation of the Month
Amaro Montenegro

Where to Find It
Liquor stores throughout Delaware
amaromontenegro.us/locator

The return of the Negroni and Aperol spritz to trendy bar menus has opened the door for Amaro Montenegro, a herbaceous bitter liquor born in 1885 in Bologna, Italy. Traditionally, amaro is served before a meal to stimulate digestion, but now it’s a sexy beverage before, during and after a meal.

To be sure, craft distilleries in the United States have been trying their hand at the bittersweet liquor, possibly because the botanical base invites innovation. However, Amaro Montenegro is for purists who appreciate the OG’s 40 spices, dried fruits, roots, seeds, bark, citrus peels, flowers and wood. (Only 13 ingredients are revealed; the rest are closely guarded secrets.)

You can recognize the brand by the bottle’s distinctive vial shape and the name, founder Stanislao Cobianchi’s homage to Princess Elena of Montenegro.

Sip it neat or on the rocks, or create a cocktail. Here’s an easy example.

Monte & Mezcal (M&M)

Servings

1

glass

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Amaro Montenegro

  • 2 ounces mescal

  • Orange twist

Directions

  • Fill a glass with ice, preferably one large cube. Pour ingredients into the glass and stir to mix. Garnish with an orange twist.

Related: These Italian Restaurants Are Mainstays in Delaware

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