Amaro Montenegro

Amaro dates all the way back to ancient Greek and Roman times when it would have been more of an herb-infused wine. Amaro is traditionally made by infusing grape brandy with a (usually secret) mix of herbs, flowers, aromatic bark, citrus peel, and spices—a blend that can include anything from cardamom to elderberry flowers.

Then it’s sweetened with sugar syrup and aged, sometimes for years. It’s silky, like a liqueur; bitter and sweet in varying degrees; aromatically complex; and, as far as I’m concerned, both delicious and fascinating.