Amaro
I started experimenting with Amaro creations at home in early 2023. This was primarly inspired by multiple summers of hiking in the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps – read more about that at shoulderseason.net.
Winter (2025)
A revisit of the original Winter (2023), inspired by Braulio (an Italian aged amaro) and previous Alpine (2023)
- Base: neutral grain spirit
- Bitter agents: gentian root, wormwood
- Botanicals: mint (locally grown), rosemary (locally grown), grapefruit zest, yarrow, juniper berries, elderberries, bitter orange zest,elderflower, lavender, wild cherry bark, black walnut hulls, lemon balm, hyssop (nettle-leafed, locally foraged from northeastern Oregon), green cardamon pods, cloves, allspice, orange zest
- Aged with oak chips
- Sweetened with turbinado sugar, white sugar, molasses
- Fining: bentonite clay and egg white
- ABV: 28%
Alpine (2025)
A revisit to an original alpine amaro recipe inspired by summer hiking in the French Alps, with a more balanced profile (less holiday “spiciness”).
- Base: neutral grain spirit
- Bitter agents: gentian root
- Botanicals: spruce tips (locally foraged), grapefruit zest, bitter orange peel, lemon balm, mint, rosemary (locally grown), sage (locally grown) juniper sprigs & juniper berries (locally foraged), cloves, elderberries, yarrow, elderflower, lavender, allspice, wild cherry bark, black walnut hulls, anise seeds
- Aged with oak chips
- Sweetened with demerara sugar, white sugar, molasses
- Fining: bentonite clay and egg white
- ABV: 30%
Rabárbaro Style (2025)
Based on this Reddit recipe and discussion. A rhubarb-forward amaro that is smoky, sweet, and bitter.
- Base: neutral grain spirit
- Bitter agents: rhubarb root
- Botanicals: white oak bark (toasted), bitter orange peel, wild cherry bark (toasted), cinchona bark, cinnamon, green cardamom pods, allspice, elderberry, elderflower, clove, orange zest
- Aged with oak chips
- Sweetened with turbinado sugar, white sugar, molasses
- Fining: bentonite clay and egg white
- ABV: 26%
Rite of Spring (2024)
Based on Brad Thomas Parsons’ Rite of Spring recipe.
- Base: neutral grain spirit
- Bitter agents: angelica root, licorice root, wormwood
- Botanicals: mint, cardamom pods, hyssop, cascadian hops, artichoke leaf, lemongrass, elderflower, lemon zest, orange zest, grapefruit zest, thyme
- Aged with oak chips
- Fining: bentonite clay and egg white
- ABV: 30%
Winter (2023)
Inspired by Braulio (an Italian aged amaro) and previous Alpine (2023)
- Base: neutral grain spirit
- Bitter agents: gentian root, wormwood
- Botanicals: mint, rosemary, grapefruit zest, yarrow, juniper berries, elderberries, bitter orange zest,elderflower, lavender, wild cherry bark, black walnut hulls, lemon balm, hyssop, green cardamon pods, cloves, allspice, orange zest
- Aged with oak chips
- Fining: bentonite clay and egg white
- ABV: 31%
Summer Solstice (2023)
Based on Brad Thomas Parsons’ Summer Solstice recipe.
- Base: neutral grain spirit
- Bitter agents: gentian root, wormwood
- Botanicals: mint, rosemary, grapefruit zest, yarrow, juniper berries, elderberries, bitter orange zest,elderflower, lavender, wild cherry bark, black walnut hulls, lemon balm, hyssop, green cardamon pods, cloves, allspice, orange zest
- Aged with oak chips
- Fining: bentonite clay and egg white
- ABV: 31%
Alpine (2023)
An original recipe inspired by a whiskey-based alpine amaro recipe and summer hiking in the French Alps.
- Base: neutral grain spirit
- Bitter agents: gentian root
- Botanicals: spruce tips, orange zest, lemon balm, mint, rosemary, juniper berries, cloves, elderberries, yarrow, elderflower, lavender, allspice, wild cherry bark, black walnut hulls
- Aged with oak chips
- Fining: bentonite clay and egg white
- ABV: 30%
Rite of Spring (2023)
Based on Brad Thomas Parsons’ Rite of Spring recipe.
- Base: neutral grain spirit
- Bitter agents: angelica root, licorice root, wormwood
- Botanicals: mint, cardamom pods, hyssop, cascadian hops, artichoke leaf, lemongrass, lemon zest, orange zest, grapefruit zest
- Aged with oak chips
- Fining: bentonite clay and egg white
- ABV: 32%