The Big Book of Amaro

by Matteo Zed

A beautifully illustrated and comprehensive celebration of the classic Italian bitter liqueur details everything you need to know about buying, tasting, and enjoying amaro. Amaro, translated literally as “bitter,” is an herbal liqueur traditionally enjoyed as a digestif. Delightfully complex and bittersweet, it’s also used as an element in many modern cocktails and kitchen recipes. Cocktail designer, spirits writer, and amaro expert Matteo Zed explores amaro’s fascinating history (from its origins in medieval alchemy to today’s popular renaissance), botanical profiles, and remarkable natural properties. Zed showcases how best to use amaro behind the bar and in the kitchen, with recipes such as the Golden Mai Tai and Bitter Goat Cheese Risotto. Readers can browse the thorough buying guide with descriptions of bottles from Italy, Europe, and beyond. A lovingly crafted tribute to an iconic Italian creation, The Big Book of Amaro is an essential experience for all of us with a passion for amaro, mixology, food culture, or all things Italian. 100 color photographs

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

Published August 24, 2021

Reviews

[Jenn Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved learning the history and varieties of this underappreciated category of spirits. I understand wanting to include such a thorough selection of specific products, but I would be lying if I didn't admit I skimmed that section. Was looking forward to the cocktail recipes and expected a bit more from that portion.

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Dave H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Italy by another name. I had middling success in my casual hunt for regional amari in rural Italy and would have had less without this book as a guide.

Cool book, and thorough. Let us not forget that, more than medicinal, an amaro is nutrients extracted from plant organs, a concentrated serving of vegetables and, as the wise know, a cornerstone of nutrition and wellbeing