Bordiga Leading the Amaro Renaissance
The history of Bordiga started a long time ago with an Occitan family from Piedmont, who established a distillery business at the base of the Alpine valleys, near the city of Cuneo. Today, the name of Bordiga is known in many parts of the world, thanks to the great dedication of its members. The value of working in harmony with nature and the traditional handcrafted production process transmitted by the Bordiga family to the new members are the common thread between past and present.
Amaro shares a similar background to vermouth: a wine fortified with a neutral spirit (often made from grapes), and macerated with herbs, roots, flowers, bark, and citrus blends, before being aged. Amari (pl.) were originally created for medicinal purposes, but as people became accustomed to drinks with a bitter bite, it was consumed merely for pleasure.
Amaro is Italian for “bitter”, and while bitterness is a major component of this herbal liqueur, it should still be balanced. It is often enjoyed straight as a digestif. However Amaro has gained serious popularity. Bartenders and mixologists have been embracing this unique spirit and bitter cocktails are finding their way to cocktail menus everywhere. While Amari have storied histories, they also have an exciting future.
“Bitter is an important flavour profile in mixology that has been increasingly rediscovered and appreciated over the past few years,” according to Elon Soddu, who runs the new Amaro Bar and is the former head mixologist at The Savoy. “The shift towards classic flavours and products has translated into a renaissance of traditional liqueurs, distillates and wines – from amari, to bitters and fortified wines,” he continues. “Equally, more bitter flavoured cocktails have made a comeback: the Negroni above all, the Hanky Panky and drinks rooted in classic Italian tradition like the Garibaldi.” (The Telegraph 03/2022)
The Bordiga range of amari, imported exclusively by Mercato Brands, fulfils a broad amaro spectrum ranging in flavour profiles and ABV:
DILEI: Delicate, sweet taste and balanced alcohol content. Two characteristics which make this Amaro easily appreciated. (30% ABV)
CHIOT: A low alcohol Amaro, with herbs and flowers from the mountains that provide a strong persistent herbal taste, and a long after taste. (18% ABV)
CENTUM HERBIS: A gently mentholated amaro in which herbs, flowers and roots give it its typical flavour. Botanical notes given by the herbs of the Alps they still hand-pick today. (28% ABV)
ST. HUBERTUS: Liqueur based on herbs and flowers from the Alps. An amaro that satisfies even the most demanding, with an intense but harmonious flavour. (38% ABV)
