A couple of months ago @RBWells made a post for a bourbon, pineapple amaro, apricot liquor cocktail that sounded good, but was “missing something.” It sounded like a great candidate for my new cocktail smoker but it took me a while to get suitable ingredients. I had to change things up a bit because I couldn’t find the same apricot or amaro, but this came out quite well (the wife took one taste and decided I was making her one too).
My version: 2oz Knob Creek Smoked Maple (didn’t realize I only had a maple bourbon at home, but it worked. Maybe made it a bit sweeter than intended) 1oz Amaro Montenegro 1oz Drillaud Apricot 1oz lemon juice
Mix in a shaker with ice, pour into low-ball glass and smoke (I used Cherry wood for mine and Pecan wood for my wife’s - very subtle change in flavor but I think the pecan might have been just slightly better).
The cocktail is very smooth, a great blend in flavors - the Amaro Montenegro comes through really well but not overpowering. I think I would choose a more traditional bourbon next time as the maple bourbon is a bit sweeter than I was looking for, but the smoke did balance it out. It is apparently my wife’s new favorite drink though, so I’ll have to keep the maple bourbon as an option in case she prefers it over other bourbons.
Definitely a drink I’m going to hold onto, and I think I’m going to have to explore Amaro Montenegro as an ingredient further.
What does Montenegro taste like? I don’t think I have been able to try it outside of a cocktail. But it seems pretty similar to averna? You can’t go wrong with a black Manhattan
Montenegro has kind of a citrus and clove taste. It kinda reminds me of mulling spices used with mulled cider. I haven’t had Averna but I read that it has more of a licorice taste? If that’s accurate, then I would say it’s different enough to notably change the taste of the cocktail.
Yeah averna is licorice and maybe… Chocolate?
Citrus and clove sounds like it would make the perfect winter drink