The Italian Job

Alto's Bartender Daniel Horvath

Amari, Italy's traditional bitter liqueurs, are usually consumed as a digestivo, but are now finding their way into cocktails, especially in the United States. Brewed with an often secret mix of herbs, roots, flowers, and other botanicals, the concoction is left to macerate in a neutral spirit before being distilled. Horvath chose Averna, a Sicilian amaro, for The Italian Job cocktail because of its bright and refreshing characteristics, which highlight the addition of blood orange and lemon peels to its aromatic base of herbs.

1 limev 1.5 oz Averna Amaro
1 oz Plymouth Gin
mint leaf
ice

Cut the lime into four equal pieces. Muddle three wedges in a shaker with the Averna and the Plymouth. Fill the shaker with ice, and shake. Pour entire contents of shaker into a rocks glass. Garnish with a mint leaf.