Amaro Bizarro (Homemade Amaro recipe)

Amaro Bizarro

Homemade Amaro Recipe

OK the World of Amaro may not be Bizarre…but it sure is interesting and fun to make!  Amaro Bizarro is our homemade Amaro recipe that combines bitter roots, vanilla & clove, botanical herbs, berries and fruit peels.  Made with 151 rum for proper infusion, and then combined with a honey simple syrup for a beautiful balance of flavors- and under 30 ABV.

This famous liqueur can include a wide variety of (often secret) bitters, herbs, flowers, peels, seeds, roots, barks- sometimes even fruit.  Many of the Italian restaurants will serve Amaro that is homemade and based on a secret recipe, handed down through the generations.

Amari may have varying degrees of bitterness, sweetness, or spice depending on the intentions of the Amaro maker.  It is meant to be sipped slowly neat, or with ice.  Some will mix with tonic- others will use in a cocktail.  Amaro means ‘bitter’ but this Italian liqueur can be a smooth, multi-layered delicious aperitif.  It is sometimes aged for weeks- sometimes homemade Amaro is aged for years.

Fun Facts of Amaro/ Amari

• The term Amaro encompasses many bitter herbed liqueurs.  Often called a digestive, Amaro recipes can be traced back to early Greeks and Romans who used these botanical concoctions as medicinal health tonics.
•  Modern science suggests that some of the botanicals in Amaro may be helpful if taken in the right doses.  The may actually kill off some harmful microorganisms in the body
• Other cultures have their own variety of botanical liqueurs.  The French have the Picon, the German have their Jagermeister, the Danish enjoy Gammeldansk, and the Hungarians love their Zwack Unicum.
• Italy has over 50 brands of Amaro that are retailed(Campari being the most famous)- but there are many homemade recipes that have been handed down for generations- and often kept secret

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Homemade Amaro recipe

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Amaro Bizarro

Our Amaro Bizaro recipe combines bitter roots, vanilla & clove, botanical herbs, berries and fruit peels.  Made with 151 rum for proper infusion, and then combined with a honey simple syrup for a beautiful balance of flavors

Prep Time1 hour hr

Infusion time21 days d

Total Time21 days d 1 hour hr

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Amaro, Botantical Liqueur, Easy Amaro, Homemade Amaro recipe, Italian Amaro recipe, Italian Liqueur

Equipment

• 1 mortar and pestle
• 1 Large Glass container for infusion

Materials

Bitters

• 1 Tbsp Wormwood
• 1 Tbsp Angelic Root Tincture

Herbs & Spices

• 10 Leaves Tarragon
• 10 Leaves Mint
• ½ spear Rosemary-leaves stripped
• 3 Leaves Sage
• ½ tsp Cloves
• ½ tsp Nutmeg
• 1 tsp Cardamom
• 2 Tbsp Vanilla

Fruits and Berries

• 10 Berries Juniper
• 4 long thin peels Grapefruit skin
• 10 berries Dried Cranberries

Alcohol for infusion

• 750 ml 151 Proof Rum

Rich Simple Syrup (After the 3 weeks of Infusion)/ May need 3-4 batches of Rich Syrup

• 3 cup Sugar
• 1½ cup Water
• ¼ cup Honey

Instructions

Combine your bitters, Herbs & Spices, and peels

• Use your Mortar and pestle to grind your dry ingredients- Wormwood, Tarragon, Mint, Rosemary, Sage. Cloves Cardamom, Juniper berries and grapefruit skins
• Add these ground botanicals to your glass jar
• Add the wet ingredients- Angelica Tincture & Vanilla to the Glass Jar
• Add your berries into the glass jar

Add 151 proof Rum to the glass jar

Allow your Botanicals to Infuse for 3 weeks

Make your Rich Simple Syrup

• Combine your sugar and water in a medium pan, at medium heat
• Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved
• Add honey, stir and remove from heat- Let cool

Make Amaro

• Use a fine strainer, or coffee filter to strain your botanical alcohol
• Combine ½ cup Botanical Alcohol, with 1½ cups Rich simple syrup in a medium bowl- stir.
• Taste your Amaro and adjust the amount of Rich Simple syrup (more or less to your taste)
• Use a funnel to pour your final Amaro into a bottle, and seal
• Repeat this final combination of ½ cup Botanical Alcohol, and 1½ cups Rich Simple syrup until you have used all of your botanical alcohol. (You will need 3-4 batches of Rich simple syrup)

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DIY Amaro – Homemade Italian Amaro

We developed this recipe because we did not care for anise, or licorice flavors.  We also excluded any citrus flavors, but we love Cardamom.  So much fun to experiment with your own flavor profile

Choose your spirit

We use 151 Rum.  You need a high alcohol content to infuse the botanicals- and you also have some caramel overtones.  Others will use high-octane  Grappa or Brandy, High-proof Vodka, or Everclear, and reduce the ABV by adding a simple syrup.

Bitters

Wormwood is the root we know from Absinthe.  Other bitter roots include Angelica, Cinchona bark, Burdock root, Myrrh, Orris, or Gentian.

Dried or Fresh Herbs

Mint, Ginseng, Fennel, Cardamom, Chamomile, Juniper, Jasmine, Rose, Star Anise, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Cloves, Nutmeg Saffron, Sage, Rosemary, Hyssop, Hops, Elderflower, Tarragon, Sarsaparilla, or Vanilla

Fruit

Lemon. Orange, or grapefruit peels, rhubarb, or dried cranberries

Rich Simple Syrup with honey or Maple

Homemade Amaro FAQ’s

What the FAQ?

What does Amaro taste like?

Amari is a botanical liqueur that is bittersweet.  It often has caramel tones and spice.  This elixir varies depending the region they are produced in, or the intent/tastes of the Amaro-maker.  Typically Amaro is made with a natural spirit or brandy.  One of the great things about homemade Amaro- is the freedom to create innovative flavor profiles.

How do Italians like to drink Amaro?

Amari are distilled spirits traditionally consumed neat or with ice.  They are specifically served as a sundown nightcap or after dinner herbal liqueur- a final flourish.   Amaro is typically bittersweet, full-bodied and spiced- considered a digestif.

What are typical ingredients for Amari?

You may use 151 Rum.  You need a high alcohol content to infuse the botanicals- and you also have some caramel overtones.  Others will use high-octane  Grappa or Brandy, High-proof Vodka, or Everclear and reduce the ABV by adding a simple syrup.

Bitters may include Wormwood, Angelica, Cinchona bark, Burdock root, Myrrh, Orris, or Gentian.

Common dried or fresh herbs may include a combination of Mint, Ginseng, Fennel, Cardamom, Chamomile, Juniper, Jasmine, Rose, Star Anise, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Cloves, Nutmeg Saffron, Sage, Rosemary, Hyssop, Hops, Elderflower, Tarragon, Sarsaparilla, or Vanilla.

To balance the bitter flavors, fruit is often added.  Peels or berries may include lemon. orange, or grapefruit peels, rhubarb, or dried cranberries.

Lastly the Amari maker chooses a simple syrup – Some syrups may contain maple or honey.

Why is Amaro made with high proof Alcohol?

Amaro is made with high-proof alcohol to extract the essential flavors, oils and colors from the roots, barks, herbs and fruits.  After the batch has infused for weeks, months, or years, the Amari maker adds a simple syrup and typically reduces the ABV to around 30%.

Do other nationalities make Amaro?

Many cultures have their own versions of Amaro.  The French have the Picon, the German have their Jagermeister, the Danish enjoy Gammeldansk, and the Hungarians love their Zwack Unicum.

Does Amaro need to be refrigerated?

Amaro that is made from spirits can be stored in a cool, dry place.  Keep the bottles closed tightly when not in use.

Amaro made from wine or brandy should be stored in the refrigerator after opening- and will typically maintain its flavor for about 2 weeks.

Amaro is a botanical liqueur that evolves and matures in the bottle. It often gets better with age.

Is Amaro really a digestive- good for the stomach?

Amaro was initially used as a medicine.  This botanical elixir is excellent for digestion and has been used as such for centuries.  It is also considered an excellent hangover remedy.

What are retail brands of Amaro that I might want to try?

Of course Aperol, and Campari are the most well-known Italian Digestifs.  Other great Amari to try include Cynar, Nonino Quintessentia,  Braulio Bormio Amaro Alpino,  Amaro Montenegro, Dell’Etna, Ramazzotti, and Averna.

Can I use Amaro in cocktails?

The Paper Plane  This beautiful drink consists of lemon juice, bourbon, Aperol, and Amaro Nonino. A burst of flavor in a glass. It is enjoyable to make and serve

The Black Manhattan    Love a good Manhattan? Then you’ll love this funky spin: the Black Manhattan! This classy drink swaps out sweet vermouth for an Italian amaro. It’s strong and boozy, like any good Manhattan, but with caramel and chocolate notes on the finish.

The word Amaro means bitter-

If you are feeling bitter, here are some of our favorite Italian cursing expressions

Italian Cursing FAQs

What the FAQ?

What are the Best Italian cursing expressions?

Do you know the most interesting Italian Cuss-worthy expressions to accompany your Masturbaker gourmet desserts?  In service of our smart and ever-learning ‘Cuss’tomers, we are sharing some of our favorites:

What does Non dire cazzate  mean?–  Don’t talk bullshit!

Cazzate, minchiate, puttanate, stronzate are all good terms for Bullshit!

What does Porca puttana mean? – Bloody hell, Dammit

When you are truly pissed, you can yell Porca puttana. which literally translates to “pig slut”.  How perfect is that?

What is Bacha ma culo? – Kiss my Ass

With such an amazing dessert- your guests may Pass on the Sass– and instead, say Grazie! (thank you), or even, Sei una dea sexy (You are a sexy Goddess!)