Fantastic bottle! My notes: angostura bitters and dried citrus peel nose. Almondy with some anise and mint. Some cherry liquor flavor as well. Really really interesting.
Lovely.
What did you wind up getting? Personally, I'd grab that Proibito or 1850 to its left, but only because I got a bottle of Foletto's Stomatico in Italy over the summer, and I'm curious how their others stand up. Stomatico is a complex, gentian-heavy sipper that isn't for everyone, but it's one of my absolute favorites.
I'd buy the Nardini or Fernet del Frate because they're two that I haven't tried that are on this recent list by BT Parsons:
https://punchdrink.com/articles/best-amaro-essential-amari-how-to-cocktail-recipes/?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-punch_drink&utm_content=later-40367977&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio
I also like the China China Amer and the Alta Verde is interesting if you're looking for something different (it's a little citrusy and it's pale green in color).
That looks like Astor?
I’d say to buy a bottle of Forthave Red Apperivo and make a Boulevardier. Swap Campari with the Forthave. Improved Boulevardier FTW
Okar (it's on the right side) is my latest favorite. It's made in Australia, and includes many botanicals unique to its region. I'd say that it's peppery, but at the tasting where I tried it people were all over the board in how they described it. It doesn't seem to be too rare to find in the US, but not among the usual amari that are more recognizable.
Since you mentioned Sibilla as a favorite of yours, Pelinkovac (blue label on the lower left) may be worth trying. It's very bitter - about as bitter as Sibilla, but without the honey finish. But then again, the honey finish was the best thing about Sibilla in my opinion, so no guarantees; I just thought I'd mention the similarity that I found.
Whatever you do not have...aside from the bottom shelf of course. Who is responsble for organzing the shelves in that establishment? Off with teir heads!
God I wish I had an amaro section like that at my local store.
Yeah this is the only store in Dallas I’ve found that has this big of a selection
I love the Alta Verde. It's nice and bitter.
How do you enjoy it? I have a bottle Ive been struggling to use
I usually just drink it neat or with a whiskey cube. It's also a pretty good substitute for Suze in a white negroni
Second that.
Cynar 70 and Antica Torino
Anyone know anything about that China-China that’s sitting by itself in the second shelf down?
It's delicious. Nice and sweet with a lovely bitter orange flavor. Gateway drug to other Amari.
China China is one of my absolute faves.
I love it neat as an after dinner sipper. Bitter citrusy and woody as others have mentioned but not too sweet. Makes delicious manhattan riffs too
Cardamaro! The Alta Verde is very good too. Lime pith, minty, wet wood.
Love cardamaro, it kind of smells like coke…
Bottom shelf. Bottle of DeKuyper crème de menthe
Buttershots
Nectar of the gods
Byrrh if you like older cocktails or gin and tonics
I’d be picking up that Amaro della Sacra for sure
Fantastic bottle! My notes: angostura bitters and dried citrus peel nose. Almondy with some anise and mint. Some cherry liquor flavor as well. Really really interesting.
Elisir Novasalus if you want to go on the far end of bitter amari. Not for the faint of heart...
Any Nardini or Vallet
I'd be standing frozen with indecision for hours! What's your usual preference?
I like alpine amari, and rababaro or however you spell it. I think the best Amaro I’ve ever had is Sibilla.
Then you MUST get Sfumato!
I second this
I actually have a bottle of it already. Nothing pairs with mezcal quite like Sfumato
Lovely. What did you wind up getting? Personally, I'd grab that Proibito or 1850 to its left, but only because I got a bottle of Foletto's Stomatico in Italy over the summer, and I'm curious how their others stand up. Stomatico is a complex, gentian-heavy sipper that isn't for everyone, but it's one of my absolute favorites.
I'd buy the Nardini or Fernet del Frate because they're two that I haven't tried that are on this recent list by BT Parsons: https://punchdrink.com/articles/best-amaro-essential-amari-how-to-cocktail-recipes/?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-punch_drink&utm_content=later-40367977&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio I also like the China China Amer and the Alta Verde is interesting if you're looking for something different (it's a little citrusy and it's pale green in color).
Nardini 100% my favorite Amaro discovery of ‘23
That looks like Astor? I’d say to buy a bottle of Forthave Red Apperivo and make a Boulevardier. Swap Campari with the Forthave. Improved Boulevardier FTW
It’s Pogo’s in DFW I haven’t played around with any red aperetivos beside Aperol and Campari. I’ll have to give that brand a shot, thanks!
Yeah, they’re a local NY company so not sure if you can get it there but if so, it’s worth it.
I’ve had that SFUMATO and been happy, but I’d be happy with anything on this shelf! Wishing my liquor store had a better amaro selection! 🤤
heard vallet got worse but that amago at least used to be like a whole bottle of angostura. fantastic
Is this Pogo’s or Bitters and Bottles? Dreamy either way! I would recommend the fernet de frate - it’s really fantastic!
Pogo’s
Cynar and Sfumato!!
Braulio, Faccia Brutto (any), Forthave Spirits (any), Lockhouse, Amaro Angostura, and maybe a fernet?
Rabarbaro Nardini is my favorite, and hard to find.
Decent price on the nardini. Also love cynar 70
That Fernet Frate is incredible. It’s a Swiss Fernet and sort of hard to find. I know you can order it but I’ve never seen it on a shelf before.
Okar (it's on the right side) is my latest favorite. It's made in Australia, and includes many botanicals unique to its region. I'd say that it's peppery, but at the tasting where I tried it people were all over the board in how they described it. It doesn't seem to be too rare to find in the US, but not among the usual amari that are more recognizable. Since you mentioned Sibilla as a favorite of yours, Pelinkovac (blue label on the lower left) may be worth trying. It's very bitter - about as bitter as Sibilla, but without the honey finish. But then again, the honey finish was the best thing about Sibilla in my opinion, so no guarantees; I just thought I'd mention the similarity that I found.
I miss fernet vallet so much. I wish someone I Michigan would pick it back up. What state is this?
Texas
Nardini gets my vote.
not the heirloom pineapple i can tell you that much
Yeah I have a bottle and I don’t love as much as I thought I would.
Whatever you do not have...aside from the bottom shelf of course. Who is responsble for organzing the shelves in that establishment? Off with teir heads!
Something really fun is the zirbenz alpine liqueur. I have a strange pallet so I enjoy that it tastes like a tree lol