Don Ciccio and Figli Amaro delle Sirene

Fernet Branca - the poster child for artisanal amari and the litmus test for legit mixology cred. No self-respecting, curly-mustached bartender would be caught dead without a bottle of this licorice-laced Italian bitter on their shelf. It’s aggressive, and tannic but rewards the patient with a balsamic-ish richness on the finish. Let’s just call it your next acquired taste.

Allow me to reintroduce myself! This inky black elixir has been around since 1868, but had its Jay-Z moment in 2005 when Todd Smith at Bourbon & Branch had the wise idea to remix the classic Manhattan by swapping sweet vermouth for this rich, bittersweet amaro. Thanks, Todd!

One sip and your tastebuds will be transported to the misty hills of Friuli, where secret family recipes using grappa, herbs and tree barks come alive. If life is about balance, then this amaro delivers it perfectly - bitter yet sweet, sophisticated yet rustic. Try it out in a paper plane or an espresso martini. Salute!