There’s always something new in the cocktail world, even if that new is something that’s new to you. Because — let’s face it — if the cocktail world was a body of water, it would be an ocean. And making up one of those drops is Cardamaro Amaro. An Italian liqueur and digestif, this bittersweet liqueur often flies under the radar, but after today, you’ll be ready for it to land in your liquor cabinet.
What Is Cardamaro Amaro?
An apéritif with a wine base, this rich and woodsy spirit owes its taste to unique herbs and the oak barrels in which it’s aged. What it isn’t is Amaro. They’re two very different liquors. For those who are familiar with Cynar, think of Cardamaro as the lighter, more approachable sibling in the same way Aperol is the lighter sibling to Campari.
As for what Cardamaro tastes like, inside you’ll find blessed thistle and cardoon, sometimes called artichoke thistle. You’ll also find among those earthy ingredients a few sweeter notes that make this wine-based apéritif so tasty. But you won’t find cardamom.
Each sip holds flavors of ginger, artichoke, rich sherry, herbaceous flavors, and a whisper of spice. Think of it as a sweet vermouth with earthy, sherry notes.
How Do You Drink Cardamaro Amaro?
You can enjoy Cardamaro after dinner as a digestif, to aid in digestion. Neat or on the rocks is a fabulous way to enjoy all the flavors Cardamaro has to offer without muffling it with other flavors. Of course, you can always enjoy Cardamaro in a cocktail. And we have a few ideas for you.
Cardamaro Flip
Lean away from the flavors of a more bitter Cynar in favor of a gentler flip by using Carmadaro Amaro instead. And if you’re wondering what the difference is between a flip and a sour, the answer is simple: a flip uses an entire egg, where a sour uses only the egg white.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce rye or bourbon
- 1 ounce Cardamaro Amaro
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ¼ ounce falernum
- 1 whole egg
- 1-2 dashes bitters
- Ice
- Dehydrated orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, add rye, Cardamaro Amaro, orange liqueur, falernum, egg, and bitters.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to the shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with dehydrated orange wheel.
Cardinal Sin
A spin on the Sin Cyn, which itself is a riff on a Negroni, smoky scotch mingles with the herbaceous, artichoke notes of the Cardamaro, while the sweet vermouth smooths it all out.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Cardmaro Amaro
- 1 ounce scotch
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, Cardamaro Amaro, scotch, and sweet vermouth.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an orange peel.
The Corduroy: A Cardamaro and Rye Old-Fashioned Riff
Unlike simple syrup in an old-fashioned, the Cardamaro isn’t a background player in this old-fashioned. Instead, it's used in equal parts with the rye.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rye
- 2 ounces Cardamaro
- 1-3 dashes orange bitters
- Ice
- Orange twist for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, rye, Cardamaro, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
A Walk Through Central Park
Take a trip to Manhattan, but not in the usual way. Instead of sweet vermouth, the Cardamaro will sing with the whiskey and bitters.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rye
- 1 ounce Cardamaro Amaro
- 1-2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, rye, Cardamaro, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
Cardamaro Sour
Skip the yolk for this sour cocktail. Instead straining out the egg whites, bust out your store-bought egg whites, or pop open a can of chickpeas to extract some aquafaba. Whiskey and Cardamaro share the spotlight as a split base in this sour.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce rye
- 1 ounce Cardamaro Amaro
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add rye, Cardamaro, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to the shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
Cardamaro Smash
This time, Cardamaro doesn’t share the spotlight with the whiskey. But the steps and recipe will feel very familiar to those who have muddled their way through a whiskey smash before.
Ingredients
- 1-3 lemon wedges
- 2 ounces Cardamaro
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce pear liqueur
- Ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the lemon wedges.
- Add ice, Cardamaro, simple syrup, and pear liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
Tea Time
Just when you thought tea time or gin martinis couldn’t possibly be any more highbrow, they come together to create a cocktail that’ll have you practicing your curtsy.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces earl grey-infused gin
- ½ ounce Cardamaro
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1-2 dashes orange bitters
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, earl grey gin, Cardamaro, lemon juice, and orange bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lemon ribbon if desired.
Harvest Moon Spritz
With its herbaceous, earthy flavors, Cardamaro is the ingredient you never knew your fall cocktails were missing. Stock up on your Cardamaro for September through November. Although, the spice flavors in this spritz make for an excellent winter cocktail, too.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Cardamaro Amaro
- 1 ounce Aperol
- 2 ounces prosecco
- 2 ounces club soda
- Ice
- Orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a wine glass, add ice, Cardamaro Amaro, Aperol, prosecco, and club soda.
- Stir briefly to mix.
- Garnish with an orange wheel.
Cardamaro Ginger Julep
The spiced flavors of ginger beer bring out the bittersweet notes of the Cardamaro, while the mint marries those flavors together and strikes a cord that makes for a cocktail that’s refreshingly zesty.
Ingredients
- 4-6 fresh mint leaves
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces Cardamaro Amaro
- 2 ounces ginger beer
- Crushed ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or julep cup, muddle mint leaves with simple syrup.
- Add crushed ice, Cardamaro, and ginger beer.
- Stir briefly to mix.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
Cardamaro Cocktails That Are Bitter, Sweet, and Everything Between
When you wish upon a cocktail star for something to jazz up your mixology game, don't be surprised if the Bar Gods open your eyes to the world of Cardamaro Amaro cocktails, because this bittersweet liqueur is nothing short of a nectar of the Gods. Isn't it time you brought a woodsy flair to your cocktail game?
