Cocktails

Featuring DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo and New World Amaro

Below are classic recipes, some of which I have tweaked a bit as well as some of my own concoctions.

Note: When building the ingredients add them in the order listed.

BITTER
APERITIVO

Excels as a Spritz with soda and Prosecco, in the classic Negroni or Americano, or wherever an Italian-style Bitter Aperitivo is called for.

The Spritz is another Italian culinary/ beverage tradition, like pizza or espresso that has swept the world. Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau describe the spritz in their eponymously named book in three parts; A spritz is always effervescent, a spritz is low in alcohol, a spritz is a pre-prandial libation.

  • 2 ounces DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • 1 ounce Italian-Style Bianco Vermouth (suggest Cocchi Americano Bianco or Ambrato by Martini & Rossi)

  • 1 ounce Big Gin® 

  • 2 ounces Sparkling Mineral Water

  • 1 Slice Orange Zest

  • 1 Orange Wheel

Build over ice in small highball or wine glass. Express orange zest over top of drink and discard. Place orange wheel in the glass (not on rim).

King Spritz

DeGroff Spritz

  • 3 ounces Moscato D’Asti

  • 2 ounces DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • 1 ounce Club Soda 

  • Half Orange Wheel for garnish

Build the three ingredients in a white wine glass over ice cubes. Swirl with a bar spoon or a swizzle stick and slide the half orange into the glass.

DeGroff Spritzer

(1970’s style)

  • 3 ounces DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • 1½ ounces Club Soda 

  • Lemon Zest for Garnish

Build the first two ingredients over ice cubes in a white wine glass; stir and and express the oil of the lemon zest over the drink and drop it in the glass.

Garden Party Spritz*

  • 1 ounce Hendrick’s® Gin

  • ½ ounce DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • ½ ounce Fresh Lemon juice

  • ¼ ounce Simple Syrup

  • Top with Lemon-Lime Sparkling Water

  • Garnish with Cucumber Slice and Edible Flower

Build over cubed ice in a white wine glass. Garnish with the cucumber and edible flower.

*Recipe by Dale DeGroff & Vance Henderson

  • 1 ounce Big Gin

  • ¾ ounce Carpano Bianco

  • ¾ ounce DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • 2½ ounces Fever Tree Indian Tonic

  • 1 Castelvetrano Green for Garnish

Add the first three ingredients to a mixing glass and stir with ice. Strain into a double old-fashioned glass over ice and add the olive.

Negroni Spritz

DeGroff
Sbagliato Corretto

  • 1½ ounce DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • 1 ounce Italian-Style Sweet Vermouth

  • 1 ounce Gin

  • 1½ ounces Prosecco

  • Half Wheel of Orange for Garnish

Build the four ingredients in a white wine glass over ice cubes. Swirl with a bar spoon or a swizzle stick and slide the half orange into the glass.

Triciclo

(A variation of the Bicicleta)

  • 2 ounces DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • 2 ounces White Wine

  • 1½ ounce Club soda

  • Lemon Zest for Garnish

Build the three ingredients in a white wine glass over ice cubes. Swirl with a bar spoon or a swizzle stick and express the oil for the lemon zest over the top of the drink.

Thirtieth Century

(A variation of the Twentieth Century Cocktail)

  • 1½ ounce DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • ¾ ounce Trail’s End® 8-Year Bourbon

  • ¾ ounce Clear Creek® Pear Brandy

  • ¾ ounce Tempest Fugit White Crème de Cacao

  • ½ ounce Fresh Lemon Juice

  • Lemon Zest

Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into a large, chilled cocktail coupe. Express oil from the lemon zest over the drink and discard.

Columbia Fizz

  • 2 ounces DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • 1 ounce Blanc Vermouth (suggest Cocchi Americano Bianco or Ambrato by Martini & Rossi)

  • 1 ounce Old Tom Gin

  • 2 ounces Sparkling Mineral Water

  • 1 Quarter Coin Size Zest of Orange 

  • 1 Half Wheel of Orange for Garnish

Build over ice in a small highball glass.  Express the orange zest over the top of the drink and discard. Garnish with the half orange wheel in the glass not on the rim.

Townie

(A riff on the Boulevardier)

  • 1 ounce DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • 1 ounce Cocchi Vermouth di Torino

  • 1½ ounce Rye Whiskey

  • Half Orange Wheel for Garnish

Build the three ingredients in an old-fashioned glass over ice and stir. Slide the half orange wheel between the ice cubes and the side of the glass.

  • 1½ ounce Mezcal

  • ¾ ounce Cocchi Vermouth di Torino

  • 1 ounce DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • ¼ ounce Creme de Cacao

  • Jade® or Lucid® Absinthe for Seasoning the Glass

  • 1 Royal Harvest Bordeaux Cherry for Garnish

Mist the inside of an old-fashioned glass with the absinthe. Stir the first four ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and serve over ice in the prepared glass. Garnish with the Bordeaux cherry.

Negroni Absinthe #2

(Inspired by Sarah Morrissey’s drink of the same name)

La Birra DeGroff

(Inspired by Picon Bière)

  • 2 to 3 ounces DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • 6 to 8 ounces of Pilsner or Lager Beer

  • Half Orange Wheel for Garnish (Optional)

Pour the DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo into a pint glass and fill with beer. Add the half orange slice into the glass not on the rim.

Camillo’s Cousin

(Count Camillo Negroni)

  • 1 ounce Vino Chinato

  • 2 ounces DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • 1 ounce Gin

  • Half Orange Wheel for Garnish

Assemble over ice in a double old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a half orange wheel.

Iberia

  • 1½ ounce DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • 2 ounces Moscato D’Asti (suggest Bera)

  • ¾ ounce Abocado Sherry Roble Viejo or Oloroso Sherry

  • 1 ounce Soda Water

  • Orange Zest for Garnish

Assemble in a wine goblet over ice. Garnish with orange zest.

Endless Summer

  • 1 ounce Vodka

  • ½ ounce DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • ½ ounce Park Pineau des Charentes

  • 1 ounce Tonic

  • Mint Sprigs for Garnish

Assemble first three ingredients in a highball glass. Top with tonic and stir. Garnish with mint sprigs.

Made for the Stage

  • 1½ ounce Timberline® Vodka

  • ¾ ounce DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • ½ ounce Giffard Pamplemousse

  • ¼ ounce Rich Simple Syrup

  • ¼ ounce Fresh Lime Juice

  • Candied Grapefruit Zest for Garnish

Assemble all ingredients, except the garnish in a cocktail shaker and shake well with ice. Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass and garnish with the grapefruit zest.

Easy Tiger Highball

  • 2 ounces DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • ¾ ounce Combier Watermelon Liqueur

  • ¾ ounce Fresh Lime Juice

  • 1½ ounce Soda

  • 1½ ounce Fever Tree Indian Tonic

  • Thin Lime Wheel for Garnish

Assemble the ingredients as listed in a highball glass over ice cubes. Slide the lime wheel down the inside of the glass.

Mexican Holiday

(Frost half of the rim of the glass with the pepper cinnamon mix*)

  • 1 ounce DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • 1 ounce Batanga® Tequila Reposado

  • 1 ounce Cocchi Dopo Teatro Vermouth Amaro or Cocchi Vermouth di Torini Storico

  • Orange Zest for Garnish

Assemble the first three ingredients as listed in an old fashioned glass over ice and stir to mix. Express the oil of the orange peel over the drink and drop it inside the glass.

*Pepper Cinnamon Mix Recipe

Mix a half teaspoon fine cayenne pepper with a teaspoon of granulated white sugar and a teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a bowl.

NEW WORLD
AMARO

Add richness to the classic whiskey Manhattan with the Midnight Manhattan, spice up a Rum Punch or a Mai Tai and bring the early 19th century Sherry Flip into the new Millennium.

Midnight Manhattan

(This richer flavored Manhattan can be enjoyed before or after dinner)

  • 2 ounces Trail’s End® 8-Year Bourbon

  • ¾ ounce DeGroff New World Amaro

  • 1¼ ounce Italian-Style Sweet Vermouth

  • 4 dashes Angostura Cocoa Bitters 

  • 1 Royal Harvest Bordeaux Cherry

Stir all the ingredients with ice and strain into an old-fashioned glass over ice. Garnish with the Bordeaux Cherry. (Note, I prefer the Midnight Manhattan over ice, but it can be served up as well).

The flip was a late 18th early 19th century favorite commonly made with sweet sherry, sugar and egg. This 21st Century version is positively luscious.

Millennium Flip

  • 1 ounce DeGroff New World Amaro

  • 2 ounces Pedro Ximenez Sherry 

  • 1 whole egg

  • Fresh grated nutmeg for garnish

Whisk an egg to combine the yolk and white. Measure the three ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake very well. Strain into a Nick & Nora glass and grate fresh nutmeg over the top.

Rocket Fuel

  • 1½ ounce DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

  • 1½ ounce Cocchi Vermouth di Torino

  • ½ ounce DeGroff New World Amaro

  • 2½ ounces Moscato d’Asti Sparkling wine

Build the four ingredients in a white wine glass over ice cubes. Swirl with a bar spoon or a swizzle stick.

Stormy Cherry

  • ½ ounce DeGroff New World Amaro

  • 1 ounce Timberline® Vodka

  • 1 ounce Heering Cherry Liqueur

  • 2 ounces Ginger Beer

  • 2 ounces Club Soda

  • Lime Wedge for Garnish

Build over ice in a highball glass.  Squeeze the lime wedge over the drink and drop into the glass.

DeGroff Mai Tai

  • ½ ounce DeGroff New World Amaro

  • 1½ ounce Plantation Original Dark Rum

  • 1 ounce Orgeat Almond Liqueur

  • ¾ ounce Ferrand Dry Curacao

  • ¾ ounce Lime Juice

  • Lime Wedge for Garnish

Shake the first five ingredients well with ice. Strain into an old-fashioned glass over ice cubes. Squeeze the lime wedge over the drink and drop into the glass.

Charlotte’s Glider

(Created by Charlotte Voisey)

  • 1 ounce Monkey Shoulder

  • ½ ounce DeGroff New World Amaro

  • ½ ounce Giffard Banane du Brésil

  • ¾ ounce Aperol

  • ¾ ounce Fresh Lemon Juice

  • Lemon Zest for Garnish

Shake and double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon zest.

Bitter Nail

(From the Rusty Nail)

  • 2 ounces McCarthy’s® 6-Year Oregon Single Malt Whiskey

  • ½ ounce DeGroff New World Amaro

Pour the whiskey over ice cubes in an old-fashioned glass and pour the Amaro over the top. Serve without stirring.

  • 1¾ ounce Batanga® Tequila Reposado

  • ½ ounce DeGroff New World Amaro

  • ¾ ounce Lime Juice

  • ¾ ounce Demerara Sugar Syrup

  • Thin Wheel of Lime for Garnish

Shake the first four ingredients well with ice and strain into an old-fashioned glass over ice cubes. Garnish with a thin lime wheel.

Justin Time

(Created by Justin Lillge)

  • 2 ounces Batanga® Tequila Reposado

  • ¾ ounce Lime Juice

  • ¾ ounce Orgeat

  • ½ ounce DeGroff New World Amaro

  • Ground Cinnamon for Garnish

Assemble the first three ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and dust with ground cinnamon.

Departure

(DeGroff Original)

Rumbullion Cocktail

(Created by H. Joseph Ehrmann)

  • 2 ounces Fresh Victor Mexican Lime & Agave

  • 1½ ounces DeGroff New World Amaro

  • 1½ ounces Appleton Estate Rum

Assemble the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and serve up.