Looking for something festive and different to kick off your New Year’s Eve celebrations? Look no further than Ramazzotti Amaro, our latest favorite cocktail base. Just in time for the holidays, we were introduced to this special drink, which features 33 ingredients of herbs, spices, flowers and fruit. However, the specific recipe has been a secret for more than 200 years. Created in Milan in 1815, Ramazzotti Amaro is magnificent. Read on for more details about this beautiful liqueur, which is priced at less than $30.
Ramazzotti Amaro
Firstly, we began our late afternoon Christmas Day celebration with a taste of Ramazzotti Amaro on the rocks. The aroma is amazing, with an abundance of cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar and vanilla. On the palate, sweet cherry cola, anise, vanilla and chocolate flavors are balanced with orange bitterness, herbal complexity and rich texture. Secondly, we mixed a cocktail called “Holiday in Manhattan.” (See the recipe below.) Subsequently, on Boxing Day, we paired Amaro with Amaretti del Chiostro almond cookies. Delicious!
The Ramazzotti Story
Above all, Ramazzotti is the oldest genuine House of Amaro, founded in Milan in 1815 by Ausano Ramazzotti. He created his Amaro recipe in a laboratory. And in just a few years, bottles of Amaro Ramazzotti, the first non-wine-based Italian liqueur, began appearing in local bars. After that, Ausano’s family continued the tradition, and by 1959, the label became familiar around the world. Most importantly, the blend has not changed over two centuries. Moreover, it contains no coloring or artificial additives. Further, in the 1960s, the family expanded with Amarao Menta mint-flavored liqueur, followed by anise-flavored Sambuca Ramazzotti.
Apéritifs and Digestifs
We discovered that Amaro can be an apéritif to stimulate the appetite before a meal. In contrast, it can also end the meal as a digestif, to help with digestion. Above all, there are many different cocktails that feature Amaro’s many flavors. For example, one classic version is simply Amaro on the rocks with a cucumber round. Or instead, add a slice of lemon or orange. On the other hand, Amaro can be blended with bourbon, gin, scotch or even tequila.
Cocktail Recipes
You can find many recipes to suit your mood with Amaro. We really enjoyed Holiday in Manhattan, and plan to try Amaro Chocolate Negroni too. Why don’t you?
Holiday in Manhattan
Ingredients:
3 parts cranberry juice (unsweetened)
1 part simple syrup
1/2 parts Ramazzotti Amaro
2 parts Bourbon
Garnish: Cranberries and Rosemary
Preparation:
Fill cocktail shaker with ice and pour in all ingredients
Shake to chill and combine
Strain into festive glass
Garnish with fresh cranberries and fresh rosemary
Amaro Chocolate Negroni
A fun twist on the classic Negroni
Ingredients:
1 part Amaro Ramazzotti
1 part Lillet Rouge
1 part Gin
3 dashes chocolate bitters
Garnish: Orange peel and Cherries
Preparation:
Place ice in a low tumbler
Pour over the Amaro Ramazzotti then add the Lillet Rouge, Gin and bitters
Garnish with orange peels and cherries to finish
Summary
In conclusion, we recommend Ramazzotti Amaro on New Year’s Eve or any time in the weeks and months ahead. Above all, we thank Cork + Knife Communications for the introduction and the sample. We will now keep Ramazzotti Amaro as a staple in our cocktail cupboard.
Most importantly, we hope you stay safe, stay home, and enjoy the rest of season.
Cheers!
Margot and Dave