AMARO NARDINI

“The Nardinis are famous for their grappa; their distillery, founded by Bartolo Nardini in 1779, remains one of the oldest in Italy. The grain-based blend is made with just three key botanicals—bitter orange, gentian and peppermint—that reveal a complex harmony of flavors.”

I was introduced to amaro seven years ago by a wise and weathered bartender who took me under his wing. In my ongoing education in spirits, amaro is a part of the core curriculum. The tradition of making bittersweet liqueurs – amari in Italian – has been around for centuries. The beauty of each amaro is how it reveals its terroir in a similar manner as wine. These herbaceous spirits have been resurrected from the dusty back bar to center stage in the United States in the resurgence of craft cocktails. The depth and character of amaro will lead you down a dark and wonderful rabbit hole.

Amaro Nardini was not the first amaro I tasted, but if I had to choose, it would be the last. It may be the perfect balance of bitter and sweet. While some amaro have dozens of ingredients, the genius of Amaro Nardini is its simplicity of gentian root, orange, and peppermint. It provides a warm and welcoming entry to the world of amaro for those who have not ventured into digestifs.

Nardini is a family-run artisanal amaro with their commitment to quality clearly stated on sign in their distillery in Bassano: “Chi alla vita tiene, beve giusto e beve bene” - in English this is “He who values life, drinks well and drinks right.”

Amaro Nardini is described on the beautiful Nardini website as “Balanced, citrusy, intense. Amaro Nardini is the perfect balance of flavors, with hints of liquorice from the gentian root, peppermint and orange: a variety of flavors, in perfect balance. Serve it straight, cold or on the rocks: it tastes great in every way.”

I admire other amaro for cocktails, but Amaro Nardini is appreciated most simply chilled with an orange twist. It remains our unapologetic house amaro as there has never been a guest who does not swoon over the taste of dark chocolate, bitter orange, and wintered mint. For those whose worlds only include 750ml, the 1L Amaro Nardini graciously extends an extra offering of Italian love.

You can buy this in the US here and in the UK here and then make yourself one of these cocktails or one recommended by the Nardini family.

Jared Ray Mackey