1 oz Lillet Blanc (Dolin Blanc)
.75 oz Suze (Bittermens Amere Sauvage)
Grabbing another recipes out of the PDT Cocktail Book I decided on the White Negroni. Negroni's are a drink I really want to like, but don't. They're a too sweet mess of flavors that doesn't blend well. To really learn to like negroni's I need to start doing some tests with different vermouths + ratios. Either way, I decided on this white version for 2 reasons. The first is of course, that I really want to like a negroni. The second is that it asks for Suze, which is an ingredient that doesn't come to the U.S., but thanks to the new Bittermens Spirits I believe I have something I can replace it with.
In Bittermens new spirit line there are two that I don't really know what to do with, The Amere Sauvage and the Amere Nouvelle. Originally didn't want to pick them up, but then after some research I figured one could be used for Amer Picon, and the other Suze since their botanical list seemed similar. So in this drink, I'll admit, I accidentally started with the wrong one. I made it with Amere Nouvella the one I feel is closer to Amer Picon. The drink was ok, but it wasn't negroni like at all. There was lemon, citrus and some bitter notes, but nothing as assertive as Campari. It tasted closer to dry vermouth cinnamon and oranges. Good, but no negroni. After doing a double check I realized that I should of been using Amere Sauvage as the Suze substitue.
Wow, what a difference. The smell is all lemon oil and doesn't give a hint of what is to come. The sip is a real shocker. It starts light and lemony for a split second and then you are hit over the head with a bitterness reminiscent of Campari. Instead of the grapefruit and bitter herbs I'm used to from Campari though the dominant flavor I get is ginseng. Within the ginseng 'I'm rubbing my tongue against a tree root, in a good way' taste there are hints of orange and honey and a warming sweet vermouth note. Sweet drink. The flavor profile of the Amere Sauvage brings a welcome and surprising change to a Campari standard.
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