As waning summer days give way to the crisp breeze of autumn, and Pavlov’s bell begins to toll for all things pumpkin spice, there is one cocktail that I begin to crave: an Amaretto Sour. Bolstered with a measure of high-proof bourbon (à la Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s renowned recipe), the drink is a masterclass in sweet-tart-boozy balance. Fortunately, I had a bottle of the Amaretto del Cansiglio on my shelf, and the resulting cocktail surpassed all of my personal Pavlovian desires.
The Maschio family produces the Amaretto del Cansiglio at their historic Distilleria dell’Alpe in the Veneto region of Italy, and Napa-based importer Dalla Terra brought it stateside. Starting with the same wheat spirit base as their stunning Verità Vodka Italiana, the amaretto is cold-infused with Sicilian bitter and sweet almonds, Calabrian orange peel, and grapefruit peel and then aged for eight months in French oak barriques.
The Amaretto del Cansiglio is redolent with aromas of marzipan, and the sweet almond flavor carries through on the palate. But the liqueur shakes off its cloying reputation, with the sweetness held in check by the subtly bitter citrus notes and an earthy finish. Sip it solo as a post-dinner digestif or let it shine in any number of cocktails, from the classic version of the Amaretto Sour to playful modern recipes. $24.94, empirewine.com
Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s Amaretto Sour | Photo by Stuart Mullenberg
Roots & Rituals | Photo by Jonathan Cooper