[Montenegro] In Search of the Lost Time
The Course of true love never did run smooth. － From A Midsummer Night's Dream
The Amaro Montenegro was first produced in 1885 and named after the second Italian Queen, who ascended the throng in 1900. In the 80s of the 20th centry, Montenegro has become one of the most well-known and popular brands in Italy.
Even in today's world where many traditional brands have lost their popularity, Montenegro is still one of the best-selling Liquors in Italy. It has plentiful tastes and nice flavor, and can be enjoyed straight, with ice, as well as in various combinations in modern cocktails. Palate entry is sweet combined with an aroma of tangerine at first then it quickly turns mildly bitter and botanical. Aftertaste is moderately bittersweet, a balanced flavor between sweet and bitter.
In May, 2014, Amaro Montenegro has been introduced into China. Enrico Gatti, the Export Manager, came to China to share this Montenegro legend and enjoy his mainland journey from Shanghai to Suzhou.
[Shanghai]
May 20 - SinoDrink held a Summer Cocktail party in the name of Amaro Montenegro in Light & Salt, located at Rock Bund. Library Distillery's classical furnishing combined with its decorations of modern art work and casino roulette perfectly matches Montenegro's vintage but paradoxically modern design.
At the center of the bar stands a casino roulette. The gifted bartender Rick Starr improvised 3 Montenegro cocktails, which were absent from the menu. Enjoying a fresh ‘My Montenegro’ with friends is undoubtedly a nice recreation in the early summer.
Rick Starr’s Cocktail Menu
-Montanegroni
40ml amaro Montenegro
30ml compari
20ml tawny port
-Until T’amaro
40ml amaro Montenegro
20ml gin
20ml fresh grapefruit juice
10ml green tea syrup
-Elena la Bella
20ml amaro montanegro
20ml aperol
20ml coffee liquer
20ml fresh orange juice
Egg white
[Suzhou]
After his visit in Shanghai, Mr. Enrico Gatti bought the Amaro Montanegro to Suzhou. In this early summer, SinoDrink, Suzhou PerBacco, and some local bartenders spent their time philosophizing about Italian liqueur culture.
“Amaro Montenegro is a renowned Italian liqueur obtained by careful infusion in pure alcohol of a large number of herbs originating from all over the world. It was first produced in 1885 in Bologna following extensive devoted experiments performed by a famous Italian spirits manufacturer Stanislao Cobianchi...”Mr. Enrico Gatti said slowly, and everyone was following him in search of the lost time.
This time, Mr.Kimi Qian performed some Montenegro cocktails.
Kimi Qian’s Montenegro Menu:
-The Montenegro Orange Crush
Half fresh lime
3 slices of fresh orange
8-10 fresh mint leaves
2 tsp brown sugar
1 oz JackDaniels
Top with 3/4 oz Amaro Montenegro liquore
Method: Muddle
Garnish: Fresh mint leaf and slice of orange
Glass: Mixing Glass or Collins
Jacky Luan’s Montenegro Menu:
-Carumba
1/5 fresh blood orange juice
1/5 Grand Marnier
3/5 amaro
Piece of lime without green shrit
3~5g Brown sugar
5~10ml Bacardi 151
Light up…
We march from Shanghai to Suzhou and from the Bund to the Jinji Lake. Montenegro's unique aroma of tangerine and flavor of mild bitterness has lingered on and filled our memory. We are going back to the 19th century and searching for the lost time.
