Tasting Vintage Amari - Fernet! Cynar! Gambarotta?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 3 июн 2024
- Today we’re tasting vintage amari! Amari is plural for amaro, which is Italian for “bitter”, so these are Italian bitter liqueurs. I recently got my hands on some vintage amari from the 1960’s and 70’s, so I thought Az and I could do a tasting on the channel! In some cases, like the Ramazzotti and Fernet Branca, we’ll compare the older bottles to current ones. The Gambarotta, on the other hand, hasn’t been available for the last 40 years, so I have no idea what to expect. I’m always excited to try something new, and curious to see what those years do to the overall flavor profiles. Let’s see what’s inside these dusty old bottles!
For more on the topic, I recommend the book
AMARO, by Brad Thomas Parsons.
amzn.to/3ltqrMb
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Patreon: / anderserickson
TIME STAMPS
Intro: 0:00
1962 Cynar: 0:54
1960’s Zucca: 2:18
1960’s Ramazzotti: 3:52
1966 Averna: 5:46
1970’s Fernet Branca: 7:46
1970’s Gambarotta: 10:59
Follow Me:
Instagram: / anderserickson
Twitter: / anderserickson_
Facebook: / andersericksoncocktails
Co-produced with the lovely Azusa "Az" Inaba 🎥 🎨
Btw, these bottles were acquired at auction for around $20 each (excluding shipping). What's your favorite amaro?
Time stamps 👇👇
1962 Cynar: 0:54
1960’s Zucca: 2:18
1960’s Ramazzotti: 3:52
1966 Averna: 5:46
1970’s Fernet Branca: 7:46
1970’s Gambarotta: 10:59
Where in the world are they auctioning vintage amaro??
These bottles were from whiskyauctioneer.com. You can find affordable bottles, but shipping can be expensive.
Cynar.....
My favourites are 1) Cynar 2) San Simone (every bar has it here in Torino, but even in the rest of Italy it is hard to find) 3) Averna.
@@Mondoscritto I've never heard of your 2nd choice, but I bet it's good. Have you had Amaro Dell' Etna?? Delish!!!
Gambarotta (Gamba Rotta = broken leg) was a pretty big amaro in its time the distillery of which was owned by one of the biggest chocolate and sweets companies to this day, Novi. The recipe dates back to the 1600s and was given to the original owner of the distillery by a monk. It is based on herbs unique to a certain area of Piedmont if I recall correctly and is considered a collector's bottle now.
So yeah, you tasted a literal piece of Italian booze history as well as a literal treasure ahahah
P.s. Zucca means squash yes but the amaro is named that because of the guy who made it, Ettore Zucca (it's written on the bottle)
it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distillerie_Inga_%26_C.
You two are adorable. And thanks for the lesson. So much to learn about!!!
Thanks, Steve! Glad you enjoyed!
Well, I'm quite late, but this is what I found about the Gambarotta:
Historic Piedmontese Amaro, created by one of the major representatives of the regional business of the time, Gian Battista Gambarotta, who at the end of 1800 founded the FICC, "Fabbrica Italiana Cioccolato e Affini", which in recent times would become the Novi, famous and known for excellent products and successful advertising.
Like many confectionery entrepreneurs and pastry chefs of the time, Gambarotta also tried his hand at the knowledge of liqueurs and distillation, developing an amaro that, in 1898, won a competition in Turin. On the wave of the success of the distillates in 1906 he launched Libarna, a true milestone in the image of Piedmontese grappa, with Bosso, Mazzetti and Bocchino, until the mid-1970s.
The Gambarotta amaro recipe seems to have been given to the founder's great-great-grandfather, by a missionary, a certain Father Stanislao, who lived in 1700, the golden age of liqueurs, which saw the birth of masterpieces such as Chartreuse. In this period many monastic orders were dissolved, resulting in the diaspora of the recipes of the convents, which in the following century became bitters for commercial consumption, among the many famous Averna, S.Simone or Strega.
The success of the liqueur products determined the separation of the commercial activities and the birth of the distillery in Serravalle Scrivia, while the confectionery industry took the path we know. In 1898 the amaro won an important recognition at the national exhibition in Turin, which acted as a sounding board for the knowledge of the product.
The success lasted until 1926, the year of the untimely death of the founder at only 45 years old, he was taken over by the management of the Inga family, of Sicilian origins who continued the business until the 70s, hard years that saw the crisis in the consumption of bitters and the subsequent downsizing of their market.
Some bottles of amaro can still be found on the shelves of some bars or foodstuffs along the Ligurian Apennines, to allow us to taste a piece of the history of Italian liqueurs. The label that we see at the top left was designed in 1928 in the midst of the Futurist era, as can be seen from the graphics of the man portrayed in the essential style conceived and launched by Fortunato Depero.
www.saperebere.com/amari-e-bitter/amari-g/
And thanks for the great video!
I love that you described Fernet as a "cough drop." I'm a fan of Fernet Branca, and when people ask me what it tastes like I tell them, "A Ricola is basically a virgin Fernet Branca."
I drink Fernet Branca a lot, but always mixed with regular Coke and lots of ice. The Argentine way
Have you messed with the Branca's "Menta" it's basically andes flavored mint liquer. Fantastic in hot chocolate.
I love it too and keep it on the shelf, but when I gave a friend of my Dad's a taste he took a sniff and declared that it smelled of "multivitamins and diesel" and declined to taste it.
I have been enjoying Anders for a few weeks now, and am so happy to put a face and a personality to Az (sp?) and her off-camera comments. You two are a class act. Don’t keep her hidden - she brings a lot of funny expressions and another dimension to the discussion of your content of educating us in the ways of cocktails! And I’m also adding more bitters to my collection, thanks to folks like you who bring that info out!
Ramazzotti and Fernet are always in my cabinet. I’ll make a Manhattan variant with the Ramazzotti which I enjoy, just not all the time. I grew up with Fernet Branca so there is no hurdle for me, and I do love a Fernandito/Fernet-Coke. Great episode, thanks.
I love when Az joins the videos. He expressions are awesome. : )
I love experiencing new liqueurs like this. I usually first try it straight, then I mix it with soda or even plain water to open it up to taste the flavors without them so condensed and if it's really bitter I might try it then with some sugar to hammer the bitterness and extract the other flavors
And Fernet Branca is simultaneously evil and lovely
Absolutely. Trying it in different applications is the way to go. I’m looking forward to mixing with some of these. Sometimes just letting them sit and open up a little bit helps. Like with the Zucca, it was incredible how it changed over just a few minutes. It almost behaved like wine in that sense.
I have just discovered your channel and am binge watching the library. You are both adorable, but Az just makes the best faces and this has been my favorite showcase of her range so far. I am learning a lot, so glad I found you!!
Your channel is so refreshing and one of my favorites!
This was an amazing idea please keep doing these with different old bottles
Hello guys, I'm from Piedmont and I actually work at Ramazzotti Distillery, I'm very happy that you like it and use it for mixing! I discovered this channel recently but I'm recovering on all videos! Very interesting, thanks! :-)
Such an entertaining and educational video - you guys are so much fun.
Just found your channel and loving the great content, keep it up!
~Cheers!
I just saw this one for the first time, it’s so great!
I love the Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro because it's a mellow, floral amaro like the mysterious last one you tried!
Almost drinkable straight even!
Very interesting episode! I really enjoy all your tasting episodes! Glad you made a bunch more within the last year or so :)
Does anyone know if there's something close to Fernet Branca but _without_ the menthol component?
Great video! Thanks for this one.
Great video! As an italian, living in the north, in the Milano area, it's been so funny seeing you two try "gli amari". My favorites, among the ones you have shown, are Fernet Branca and Rabarbaro Zucca. I like amari from the north beacause they are more herbal, in the south they are more citrusy. I love your videos, good job!
As far as I was able to find, the alcohol production was merged with Distilerie Inga, but the facility in Serravalle Scrivia was pooly maintained and was destroyed by fire in the 80’ies. Gambarotta’s confecctionary production still lives on though. Wish I could have shared a glass with you. Skål!
A really fun video. Thanks
Az's facial expressions are priceless! 😂
Love your channel, I’ve been binge watching for 2 days and even bought some cocktail cherries to up my game!!! May I suggest a delicious Brazilian cocktail you might enjoy? 2oz cachaça, 1/4oz fernet, 3/4oz lime juice, 3/4oz simple syrup. No garnish, served on a small glass over a folded napkin 🥰
It’s called Macunaíma!!
Thanks, Bruno! Love the sound of that cocktail - I'll have to give it a try. Thanks!
That sounds awesome. I don't have any Cachaca but I'll give it a shake with rum👍
This was extremely entertaining! Thanks
Thanks, Neal! Cheers to you! 🥃
OMG, this is so awesome!! I love amari! I love this video! BTW, happy to help with pronunciation of amari and other drinks of French, Italian, Spanish or Portuguese origin. :-)
Love the facial reactions! I do the same when I get a tasty cocktail! Recently had the Canard from bar Marilou is New Orleans and it was life changing!
It is surreal for me to see all these bottles all together in an American video, they are probably one of the things that I associate the most with everyday country life in Italy. Enjoy!
(it's also surreal that I'm the only Italian who commented so far)
Hey man, I really enjoyed the video!!
I'm italian and I actually live less than 30 minutes driving from Serravalle Scrivia, where Gambarotta Amaro was made. If you want I can do a little research about that :)
Thanks for the vid. I stumbled upon this as I was looking for reviews for Averna.
I like the part was "Chin-chin". I am Japanese. Somebody I know who is not Japanese she keeps saying that after knowing the meaning of it at whenever Kanpai occasion. Haha!
We did this at one restaurant I worked at. The 40 year old fernet branca was just difficult. Lolol. I love this channel to help me learn more about history of alcohol and cocktails!
I tried Fernet when I first started bartending and then never again. Planning on revisiting amari this summer
I love doing "Dusty Bottles" at a bar. :)
Second fermentation is always fun
We like to have Averna with our Coconut Cream Pie during the end of year holidays. The warmth and bitter herb is a great pairing with the sweet toasty taste of coconut cream pie. As far as the Fernet Branca goes, there is a nicer version ( I think ) called Fernet Branca-Menté. That's the mint version and so much tastier in my book.
Its always funny for me (an Argentinian, and an avid fernet drinker at that) to hear people be overwhelmed by the menthol taste, but believe me, once you try the 'fernet branca menta' you realize the original has no comparison to that level of menthol/eucaliptus. That variation of branca leaves your tongue LITERALLY GREEN
Sure, but the Menta loses 10% ABV, which is a bummer.
I love Az. Her reaction to Frenet cracked me up. You either like Frenet or you don't. Kinda like Absinthe.
Thank you so much for tasting notes! Got dozens of these bottles out of 70-s. Btw that ramazotti bottle is probably from 80-s
I’d love to see the 3hr unedited version of this footage. Hahaha 🤣 I’m sure it would be very entertaining
😂 it was a lot of fun!
You and me both! 😂
What cocktails do you make with the Ramazzotti? (You were about to say but it cuts away)
Another great video Anders! I'm only recently really started to appreciates bitter liqueurs and drinks... where did you track down all these old bottles?? ...also, being French Canadian and knowing some (very little) japanese... I laughed quite loud at that Chin-Chin joke! LOL
Hahaha...happy you laughed at the Chin-Chin bit! These bottles came in from an online auction based out of the U.K. There's a lot of interesting bottles out there, but it's a gamble how well they hold up over the years!
This was such fun. I went out and bought a bottle of Amaro Di Torino so I could play with an Amaro at home
One my all time worst hangovers came after drinking a lot of Fernet. Thanks for showing different amari to try
Hey, great video. One thing though, you both liked the Cynar but I don’t think you have a video of a drink that uses it. Do you have a favourite Cynar cocktail?
My friends and I would do a shot fernet and describe the taste every year at xmas. Tastes like engine degreaser mixed with toothpaste then filtered through old coffee grounds.
ANDERS!!!! I absolutely LOVE amari!!! This is such an interesting video. Have you tried Amaro Dell'etna??? Fabulous!!! It has like a dried fruitiness, and slight bitterness. You can taste raisins and dates. If you can get it, try it. CHEERS!!!!
I haven't tried that one! Thanks for the tip, Tim - I'll keep an eye out for it! Cheers!
When I was a boy I remember my grandfather feeling ill on his boat at Jack London Square in Oakland Ca, and not up to driving us home to San Francisco. A raw egg and a shot of Fernet later we were on our way home.
You guys ROCK!!
Anders! Do you know Cardamaro? I happened upon it by mistake. Went shopping for amaro and couldn't decide. Ended up with this. So unusual. Very nice. With bourbon as a vermouth alternative, or just as a sipper. INSANE! Give it a try. It will make an impression. Cheers.
I did remember that I was buying the cynar for $12.00 and by the time was 2000 the price was getting up .
$12 Cynar? That's something I can get behind!
I just want to hang out with you guys. I’d love to try that Fernet, though. Maybe it’s the pharmacist in me.
well here in argentina fernet its like a national drink to us, and yes we know its an italian amargo... In Cordoba (an argentinian state) drinks more Fernet than Italy so thats why we said its like our national drink. You should mixing with coke and give it another try :D
Considering how much of the Argentine population has a connection with Italy it's not a surprise
Probably seen almost all of your videos by now and they all are incredible!! Although I learn a lot from every video, these ones with the both of you are my favourites for just enjoying your content!! More of these please!! Wonderful content as always:)
Anders, I read so much about Averna and Ramazzotti having a strong licorice flavor. Is that not the case?
Artichoke LEAF is one of the 13 botanicals in Cynar. Cynara is a genus of a prennial plant native to the region
Great video! How fitting that you have such chemistry in you mixology videos.
Az your voice is so appealing!
Montenegro straight with some ice, espresso with a spoon of fernet, . Ramazzotti is like coca-cola, averna can be used a lot. Nonnino is relatively new. Also vechio amaro del capo is a worth trying amaro.
I like how you enjoy the Montenegro. Love the stuff! Cheers!
How long would you keep an opened bottle of any spirtit
Az & Anders are sweet like 'spiced pears.' 🥰
Finally got my first bottle of Fernet. Been dying to see if my reaction is the same as Az’s. Yes - cough medicine! But my wife liked it in a Negroni, so that’s what matters.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE fernet, it's one of my main go-to alcohol things to sip on, but now if someone offers me an old bottle, think I'll pass 😂
Cheers.... thumbs up.
Nice research, again. Now I’m suffering Gambarotta seeking behavior.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way! 😉
I love Averna. Do you know "The Intercontinental"? It's a cocktail by Duggan McDonnell. He combines Brandy, Averna and Maraschino Liqeur.
I like to skip the latter and go for a 2:1 ratio with Brandy and Averna, and use Cardenal Mendoza which is a very rich, dark, flavourful Brandy de Jerez (from Andalusia, Spain)
that teams up beautifully with the coffee and orange notes of Averna.
That sounds wonderful - I'll be sure to give it a try!
@@AndersErickson It's a cocktail that let's me purr like a cat... by the way, Cardenal Mendoza also makes for a really good Sidecar.
How about Strega?? Its hard to find!
Do you have try the green fairy (absinthe).
I do like the traditional "green fairy" absinthe quite a bit. There are some great brands out there. I've been mixing with a Swiss "blue" absinthe lately that I like a lot, but it's nice to have the green on hand too.
Try amaro from South Italy : Amaro Lucano, Amaro del Capo, Borsci San Marzano
waaau , which camera do you use
I love all of these. Had them all many times. I have bar friends I take shots of Fernet with them because it’s so damn good. Just don’t get drunk off of it. You’ll see dead people.
If I buy Averna do I need to refrigerate after opening like vermouth? Will it only lasts a couple of weeks after opening? Ive found no solid answers
Great question! Averna's high enough proof that it's more shelf stable than vermouth. So no need to keep it in the fridge. Save that room for more vermouth - or sherry. Cheers!
@@AndersErickson thank you Anders! I knew you would reply. Love the channel!
Averna Sour is amazing. A bartender in a small town once made the mistake of adding coke to it, because she was in a rush and green.
The patron loved it so much that more people tried it and 5 years later it's their most popular drink.
Tinkie Winkie they call it. It's dangerous.
That sounds awesome! Definitely trying that!
Hi Anders! I love your videos!! I've always been intimidated to make my own cocktails but your videos have helped me learn a lot and I'm slowing getting more confident with my home bar. That said, I'm still very uneducated with a lot of spirits and I recently bought a bottle of Fernet Branca thinking it would be similar to Amaro Montenegro (or any Amaro for that matter). WOW was I wrong. I obviously can't return it so now I'm stuck with this bottle of medicine flavored syrup that I have no idea what to do with! Any suggestions on how to make use of this stuff?
Thanks again for your videos and your teachings!
Cynar is awesome I just wish it was 25% and less sweet.
Nice video. It felt weird watching you open all those bottles. I al sure many collectors got heartbroken. hehe
But since there is alcohol involved, thecnically should be fine.
For me the curious part is how the flavour profile also gets adapted to the modern pallet or following newer regulatory requirements. Now I am curios how much the recipe evolve and how much the ageing in the bottle affected the flavour.
Thanks for the comment. I completely agree. There are so many variables to consider. That's why I had to open each bottle...I was too curious! 😂 My apologies to the collectors out there. There are now 6 less bottles in circulation. Oops!
@@AndersErickson That last centence definetly made my day! hahahaha
Yeah but now it has been catalogued for the future, as most will people will never be able to get these anyways
@@saucytabasco Yeah that is definitely a fair point and I agree. And even if it is not the same as trying the spirit yourself, for sure gives a good idea about the taste and it's evolution through time; So Indeed was a good "sacrifice".
Cheers!
I'm going to guess that the 1970s Fernet Branca had co2 not fully expressed out of the alcohol before it was bottled and that's why it hissed.
Great to finally meet Az. Love to see her in front of the camera more
My favourite is the Hungarian Unicum.
Have the recipes changed that much? Or is it an age thing?
Super Jelly
Long ago (in the before times) I had gone to Colorado and has a cocktail that was themed to be a not-so-sarsaparilla...where the cocktail was a rye base and it tasted of root beer...I've been trying to find an amaro that allowed the rye to make that root beer cocktail forever, the closest I've found was the Ramazzoti and rye combo...do you think you can suggest a better? I've tried dozens...and would take good advice
It's fun watching them get tipsy together!
fun video :)
you're a great team. super video. inspired me to keep messing around with negroni riffs. do you ever give feedback on fan (extreme amateur) recipes?
When my father was a children my grandmother gave him Fernet when he had stomach ache, to made him trow up. Old italian medicine, I suppose ahahah
Why did the old bottle gods bless you two??
I felt compelled to look up Ching ching’s meaning in Japanese. 😊
Oz seemed to get a little more tipsy than normal haha
Will you try making cocktails with these? That would be epic! 🥃
Definitely! In fact, one or two of these bottles might make a comeback on the channel 👍
@@AndersErickson Hanky Panky time!
Oh try Fernet with coca cola, %70/%30, its so good. And Cynar with grapefruit soda, so common here in Argentina. Good channel
PD: do not try Fernet only in quantity, you can pass out after the second glass lol
Both of those sound wonderful! I’ll definitely give it a try. And good advice on the Fernet, haha. Cheers!
Never heard the Cynar and Grapefruit soda. Definitely trying that😋
Great video and love the history lesson in each one. Reading through the comments, please clear something up. What is the correct spelling of your partner’s moniker.....Az?....Oz?.....Ahs? I agree with others, give her more time in front of the camera. She ads a certain je ne sais quoi to you videos.
Az ✌️I usually leave that up to her, as she’s very busy with the production side! 🎥
Anders did you know that Argentina is the only country that are allowed to produce fernet besides Italy/Milano, and the one they make in Argentina has a different taste, maybe that’s what you tasted difrent from the old and new bottles, cheers
Tried a 1970 Fernet Menta that was produced in Switzerland (yeah during a short time they where produced in Switzerland). It was way more caramely than the normal one. Also bought it for a fucking bargain (30$). They normally go for 200$.
I also do not really appreciate fernet branca. Big averna fan though!
Same here. Have a couple recipes I'm planning to try to see if I can develop an appreciation for Fernet
Bottle and lable looks questionable. Where did this "old amaro" come from? Who distributed this? Is there a distillery or winery?
AZ: EW I HATE IT! Let me drink the other bottle of it, too. Now that's dedication to research...
Az sorry I spelled it wrong she's so cute
I think the chick got a head start on the tasting
Definitely seemed a little messy.
Nothing chunky is gonna fall out of that Averna bottle
I'm Italian, and my favorite AMARI are: PETRUS, CHINA MARTINI, GENZIANA. have you ever tried them?
Anders, I really enjoy your videos, but I just going to leave this right here. Mo Oz, mo betta. :)
The best part is that those amari are the same since their creation, and we love them.
Zucca means pumpkin
They're getting a little tipsy toward the end. LOL