It's like Italian cola, only better.
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I love this simple light and refreshing showcase of the lovely complexity that is Averna, but try as I might I just can’t get it to float properly on top of the ginger beer to make a pretty layered drink like this one. I think they cheated and used a syringe instead of the back of a bar spoon. I’ve done successful floats before, but this one was impossible. I must have made a dozen of these at various times trying to get it right for the photo, but I finally just took a pic of it looking like a fucking Coke. And by the way, Averna does have an odd cola flavor along with the other combinations of bitter and sweet herbs. Like most of these unique “secret family recipes” this one is hard to place. It’s an Amaro, which is a wine based aromatic liqueur, but if you look into them at all and try a few, they are all very distinct in flavor – no two Amaros are quite alike. As with many of these highly specific aromatic wines, the idea for a cocktail is to keep it simple and just showcase the inherent flavors of the underlying infused flavors, as I did with my recent Cherry Byrrh and Bloody American concoctions. This is probably the best recipe I’ve found to highlight the flavor of Averna without getting too heavy. The recipe actually calls for ginger ale, but I always use ginger BEER cuz it’s not as sweet – in this case Fentimans, which is kinda dry. I usually use Reed’s Extra Strong Ginger Beer, but that’s up to you. Once again, another light and refreshing summery drink, which I pretty much drank all winter long!
2 oz. Averna liqueur
4 oz. ginger beer
½ oz. lemon juice
lemon and lime wheels for garnish
Stir lemon and ginger beer in large Collins glass with crushed ice and garnish, float Averna on top by pouring slowly over back of bar spoon, or use food syringe or baster.
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