33 Botanicals, 1 Classic Recipe: The Timeless Charm of Amaro Ramazzotti
Amaro Ramazzotti is an old Italian amaro that has been made in Milan for 200 years. It is made with 33 botanicals, such as spices, cinchona, and aromatic herbs, according to a tried-and-true recipe.
We’re talking about a famous Italian liqueur, but it’s a mass-produced drink that comes in millions of bottles, not an artisanal amaro made by unicorns and elves of the Dark Forest.
And as such, it should be judged and used without prejudice.
It’s not a beautiful piece of liquid art, but it’s also not boring or fake.
Organoleptic characteristics of Amaro Ramazzotti
The bouquet is stylized, a little pachydermic, but at least it is pungent, well defined by many alpine herbs: cinchona, rhubarb, nutmeg, cinnamon, and then the citrus fruits that close with balsamic tones of eucalyptus.
Overall, it is quite varied and does its duty without overdoing it.
It does not disappoint on the palate; this is its great strength; it is not a trickle of glucose; it is not mellow like Montenegro or other emulators, but remains clear and sharp, as a true amaro should be.
The fact that this amaro is not a glucose juice is a sign of great seriousness and makes the Ramazzotti amaro worthy of being present in your mobile bar. It will not be the maximum in depth and aromatic volume; it does not have a long sip; on the contrary, it is dry and compact, but at least it does not wink with easy softness.
And note that sugar is the first sign of poor quality in a bitter: the sweeter it is, the more the defects and scarcity of the botanicals and of the alcohol itself are masked.
In this case, the decision to produce a slightly velvety and soft amaro is commendable, especially if one considers the very affordable price of this liqueur.
How Amaro Ramazzotti is made
In a simple hydroalcoholic mixture, in which 33 unknown botanicals are infused. These include herbs, flowers, spices, cinchona and other roots, and citrus peels.
After filtration, water and sugar are added, and then the amaro is bottled with an alcohol content of 30 degrees.
In short, Amaro Ramazzotti is one of the few brands that still dare, giving us a bitter look where aromatic herbs and earthy flavors mix with the fresh aroma of oranges in a way that works.
The taste is dry, immediate, and spartan, but it’s not too bad; there are spicy jolts to give rhythm.
Price
12–14 euros: an honest price for a liqueur without honor; without honor if you drink it straight; if you use it to make cocktails, the acceptable quality and the very affordable price make it an excellent product for mixing. It all depends on how you use it.
Cocktails to make with Amaro Ramazzotti
Amaro Mule and all the great cocktails that require a bitter like the Americano, the Negroni Sbagliato, the Sweet Martini, and the Spritz.
