Appearance: Translucent dark amber. Aroma: Peppermint, cola, Friar's Balsam. A refreshing and uplifting nose. Flavour and Texture: Peppermint, spearmint, bittersweet orange and cola arrival resolving to balsamic pine and gentian flavours with a complex background of subtle fruit extracts. It has an excellent texture that is satisfying but never veers towards being syrupy or cloying. A very good amaro from the house of Lazzaroni. Besides their range of liqueurs they are known for their biscuits which are, not surprisingly, particularly good accompaniments to coffee and liqueurs. Lazarroni amaro has a cleansing crispness and an interesting character that can be described as a bridge between Fernet Branca and Cynar. It has the crisp mintiness of a fernet but it is of considerably less intensity here. You nose it and think “what’s that smell?” and almost simultaneously realize it is peppermint, but it does not attack in the way the mint in fernet attacks. Similarly, it has herbal, cola, balsamic and slightly smoky notes that bring Cynar or rabarbaro amari to mind. The balance is stunning, with a light sweetness matched perfectly with a brisk bitter note from gentian and cinchona. Some palates might find it too bitter for comfort at first, while others may be instantly captivated - it all depends on your liking for bitter flavours. If it does seem "difficult" persist and try a second glass. You acquire the taste quickly and once you do many other amari suddenly seem far too heavy and sweet in comparison. Lazzaroni is something of a gateway amaro but it does not come to you, you have to come to it (although it is nowhere as challenging as Fernet). Delicious neat as a digestif, particularly when matched with biscotti, it also works very well over ice or with soda water and a twist of lemon as a refreshing summer cooler that is a welcome change from fruity spritzes. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)