Amaro is an Italian herbal liqueur that has been gaining in popularity and availability in the U.S. recently.   It is traditionally made by infusing grape brandy with a mix of herbs, aromatic bark, citrus peel and spices.  Amaro is often drank as an after-dinner digestif and there is a huge variety to try.  They range from milder to more bitter and robust in flavor.  

It took me a while to get around to buying my first bottle of amaro but once I did it became a steady presence in my bar.  There are a handful of cocktails on my regular rotation that feature it and it’s a great liqueur to experiment with.  I continue to try new bottles but I’ve had a clear go-to that I keep on hand:  Foro Originale.  Foro is on the darker, more-robust end of the spectrum, which I like.  It works well in cocktails but could also be enjoyed on its own.  Plus, it’s sold in 1L bottles where I purchase it, so that’s a nice bonus as well!