Food - Drink
The Delicate Amaro That Celebrates An Italian Princess
By AUTUMN SWIERS
Amaro is a bitter Italian digestif made from a blend of botanicals infused into grape brandy or wine, which is then sweetened and aged, ranging on a bittersweet spectrum from "more bitter" to "more sweet" with varying degrees of intensity. There are many kinds of amari, but today, we're talking about a particular one: The amaro that celebrates an Italian princess.
This delicate amaro is now known as Amaro Montenegro, but it was formerly known as "Elisir Lungavita" until 1896. In an effort to honor Princess Elena of Montenegro's marriage to Prince Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy, the amaro's original designer, Stanislao Cobianchi, changed the name to celebrate her.
Its recipe features a blend of 40 botanicals, including clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, orange, coriander, marjoram, oregano, and more, which is then finely chopped, boiled together, macerated, and distilled. According to Food & Wine, Amaro Montenegro is “one of the lightest and gentlest amari,” with top notes of orange and rosewater.