Orange Collins Fizz is the perfect sipping cocktail, a refreshing twist on the traditional Tom Collins cocktail. Enhanced with the addition of Amaro Montenegro, a vintage Italian herbal liqueur, the Orange Collins Fizz is refreshing yet complex.
{I was sent a sample of Amari Montenegro to try. This recipe and my opinions are 100% my own.}
Amaro Montenegro
Amaro Montenegro, one of several bitter liqueurs made in Italy, is an acquired taste. The first time I tried a cocktail made with bitters, I wanted to spit it out. A party girl in my early twenties, I was used to syrupy sweet cocktails made with fruit juice and cheap liquor. The Amaro and Soda my (dashing) Italian date handed me was harsh and sour on the tongue. Noticing my disapproval, he suggested I take another sip, this time more slowly, in order to appreciate the flavor notes in the drink. I gingerly took another sip, the cocktail still bitter at first, but then I tasted intriguing flavors of citrus, herb, cinnamon, and even a touch of cherry. It was a cocktail meant to be sipped, not chugged, and I was hooked. My Italian beau did not last, but my love affair with Italian bitters had begun.
Amaro Montenegro can be used as both an aperitif (before dinner) and digestif (after dinner) drink. Flavored with herbs and spices such as vanilla, orange peel, and elderflower, it is less tart than other Italian bitters, making it perfect on the rocks with a splash of soda to bring out the floral and vanilla notes. When added to a cocktail, however, the flavors in the liqueur make an otherwise ordinary cocktail explode with flavor; in the case of this Orange Collins Fizz, the herbs and vanilla balance nicely with the tang of the gin, the orange coming not from added fruit juice, but from the orange essence in the liqueur.
Orange Collins Fizz
- Ice
- 2 oz. Gin (Use the good stuff)
- 1 oz. Amaro Montenegro
- 4 oz. Lemon Lime Soda
- Orange Slice
Use a high ball glass instead of a Collins glass to capture the essence of the Amaro. Add ice to fill the glass. Add the Amaro Montenegro and gin and stir. Fill the glass with lemon lime soda and top with an orange slice. What flavor notes do you taste when you sip this?
To find Amaro Montenegro near you and get more cocktail ideas, please visit the Amaro Montenegro website. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
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