Spirits maker Asterley Bros has launched a ‘unique blend’ of amaro to tap into the UK’s artisan drinks ‘scene’.
Amaro means bitter in Italian, and while traditional products are usually consumed as a digestif, Dispense amaro is a ‘heady’ spirit, yet versatile enough to make a complex and refreshing aperitif. Made from a blend of 24 botanicals and the brand’s signature vermouth – produced from British pinot noir supplied by Gusbourne Estates in Kent – the amaro takes over three months to make using traditional techniques before being bottled and labelled by hand.
The brand is the work of long-time hospitality professionals Rob and Jim Asterley, who, when they inherited their Sicilian family’s amaro recipe, set about trying to recreate the historic drink so that a new generation could enjoy its complex, spicy and aromatic flavour.
Asterley Bros’ Dispense Amaro has been specifically designed to suit contemporary tastebuds, fusing Sicilian and British flavours.
The result is rich, bitter orange aromas on the nose, moving on to candied grapefruit and gentian before the spice notes of cardamom and clove develop. The smooth texture allows the flavours to expand on the palate, from citrus peel into bitter cocoa notes. Herbal tones of fennel, rosemary and wormwood are revealed as the citrus recedes – ‘a heady mix’ to delight even the most discerning of palates.
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