December's Spirit of the Month-Vecchio Magazzino Doganale Importante Amaro

December’s Spirit of the Month is Vecchio Magazzino Doganale Importante Amaro. Ivan Trombino’s family has been in the Agricultural business in Calabria, Italy since the 1850s. He was disheartened by how many liqueurs in the world use chemical compounds for flavoring instead of raw ingredients. So, in 2016 he decided to make his own liqueurs including Importante Amaro. In Italy, this is known as Jefferson Amaro in honor of an American Captain whose ship was wrecked on the coast of Calabria. The captain and his crew were taken in by a small village and became a local legend. Since there is already a brand called Jefferson here in the United States, the name is changed when it crosses the Atlantic Ocean.

Besides having a historical background, the process of making Importante Amaro really makes the product stand out. As mentioned before, Ivan family has a history in agriculture, so he takes using real botanicals personally. All of his ingredients come from the Sila Mountains and are only harvested and processed when in season. And this isn’t just a couple botanicals Ivan is using, we’re talking about grapefruit, bitter orange, lemon, bergamot, vanilla, wormwood, rosemary, oregano, gentian root, rhubarb and eucalyptus, just to name a few. And not all these ingredients grow in the same season, so that means Ivan is harvesting and processing all year long to make this Amaro. Each ingredient is processed on its own and infused using Ivan’s special recipe. Rich notes of coco lead to vibrant orange and bergamot flavors. Bold spice characteristics, clove being the most prominent creates a wonderful balance of richness, citrus and earthiness/spice. This is an Amaro that can stand on its own and just be enjoyed on the rocks, or could be a game changer in a Black Manhattan. No matter how you use it, just like Captain Jefferson in the small village of Calabria, it will be unforgettable.