The Italian American – an Amaro Montenegro Cocktail

This Amaro Montenegro cocktail combines Amaro Montenegro liqueur with bourbon and Campari to create a libation that is big on flavour. This Amaro Montenegro drink is mellow, well-rounded and simply delicious.

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This Amaro Montenegro cocktail is a blend of American bourbon with two classic Italian bitter liqueurs (Amaro Montenegro and Campari). As such, I refer to it as the Italian American.

A splash of maple syrup and lemon juice turn this robust bourbon amaro cocktail into a smooth, mellow yet slightly bitter short libation. It’s a great example of an Amaro Montenegro drink.

What is Amaro Montenegro Liqueur?

If you’re new to Amaro Montenegro, it is a bitter-sweet Italian liqueur often savoured as an after-dinner digestif. Incidentally, amaro translates from Italian to bitter.

Amaro Montenegro liqueur was first created in 1885 and, although the exact recipe is a secret, it is known to be crafted from a blend of 40 botanicals including cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, oranges, coriander seeds, marjoram, oregano and artemisia (wormwood).

What does Amaro Montenegro liqueur taste like?

Amaro Montenegro liqueur is bittersweet with a complex balance of flavours including floral notes along with nuances of herbs, spice and citrus. It manages to be both bitter yet sweet and warming yet fresh and fruity. It really is an exquisite mouthful of flavours.

The Amaro Montenegro drink can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in cocktails.

How strong is it?

Amaro Montenegro liqueur is 23% ABV (alcohol by volume), so it’s not as hardcore as a spirit such as gin or vodka, but it still packs quite a punch.

What does Amaro mix with?

If you’re after a long drink try partnering Amaro Montenegro liqueur with soda water, tonic water or ginger ale. Use plenty of ice, drop in a wedge of fresh lemon or grapefruit and away you go.

Alternatively, shake up a cocktail. It pairs well with bourbon, whiskey, tequila, rum, mezcal and vermouth to name a few options. Embellish your creation with citrussy elements, such as lemon, grapefruit or pomelo for a great Montenegro drink.

Where can I buy Amaro Montenegro liqueur?

For total ease, buy it online – you’re unlikely to spot a bottle in the supermarket.

Why you should make this Montenegro drink

• It’s a quick and easy cocktail to make.
• And no fancy equipment is needed (if you don’t have a cocktail jug a large kitchen jug will suffice).
• There’s plenty of flavour in this Amaro Montenegro drink. It’s bittersweet, mellow yet with undertones of fresh lemon too.
• Bourbon provides a solid base on which the flavour profile has been built
• It’s a great entry point to bittersweet cocktails as Amaro Montenegro is quite an approachable Italian bitter for anybody new to this family of liqueurs.
• It presents a decidedly grown-up flavour palate worth lingering over rather than quaffing quickly.

And if you like the sound of this bourbon amaro cocktail don’t miss my Amaro Averna cocktail. It’s a punchy treat in an ice-laden tumbler.

Ingredients notes

Amaro Montenegro liqueur: this is the star ingredient. It tames and tempers the bourbon in a way that Campari alone does not.

Bourbon: this is a great partner to Italian bitter liqueurs. It’s strong enough to withstand the bold flavours of the liqueurs but mellow and gentle enough to allow the intriguing flavours of the bitters to present themselves. Pick the best bourbon that you can afford as it is a key ingredient in this bourbon amaro cocktail.

Campari: this is arguably the most well-known of all Italian bitter liqueurs. It’s perhaps not common to mix bitters together, but in this instance, it’s a happy partnership. Campari imparts extra bitterness than Montenegro alone and a burst of additional fruitiness.

Lemon juice: although only a tiny amount is included, it makes a world of difference, lifting the balance of flavours superbly. Don’t forego it.

Maple syrup: only a touch is needed to introduce a mild undercurrent of sweetness to this Amaro Montenegro cocktail and enhance the mellowness of the bourbon.

Step-by-step instructions

Making this Amaro Montenegro drink couldn’t be quicker or simpler – it takes less than 5 minutes to make:

1. Put the bourbon, Montenegro and Campari ingredients into a cocktail jug with a handful of ice.
2. Drizzle in the maple syrup and lemon juice.
3. Mix with a long spoon for 30 seconds.
4. Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with a twist of lemon and serve immediately.

Expert tips

• Use plenty of ice when making this drink. The ice not only chills the drink but also dilutes those potent spirits and liqueurs. It is essential to stir it with the ice for at least 30 seconds.
• If time allows, chill the serving glass for 15 minutes before pouring the drink. Doing so helps ensure the drink is satisfyingly chilled at the point of serving.
• Don’t add maple syrup to the jug first. It will cling to the ice and not mix in so well.
• Keep in mind that this Amaro Montenegro cocktail is a strong one – sip it slowly and enjoy all of those flavours.
• Have some fun playing around with alternative garnishes. Swap the lemon zest for orange zest. Add a juicy brined green olive or garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Frequently asked questions

Other Popular Amaro Montenegro cocktails

Having picked up a bottle of the good stuff, I wouldn’t want you to get bored quaffing the same drink time after time, so try your hand at these popular Amaro Montenegro cocktails too:

• Montenegroni – I do love a good Negroni riff.
• Paper Plane – A tasty blend of whiskey, Aperol and Amaro.
• Monterita – a twist on the tequila margarita.

More cocktails with amaro

If you’re lucky enough to have space on your shelf for more Italian bitter liqueurs, rifle through my range of cocktails making use of a few of them.

Have you made this Amaro Montenegro cocktail? Please give it a rating or leave a comment – I always love to hear how readers get along with my creations.

Recipe