A muddling of lemon, mint, and amaro with grapefruit or blood orange soda makes a drink that is a little sweet, a little bitter, and very herbaceous.
On a recent trip to Croatia, we enjoyed several dinners finished off with a glass or two of amaro. Although it’s an Italian digestif, it felt festive and fitting in the warm climate.
Fast forward a few months and amaro still feels festive. Rather then just to drink it on the rocks (although it’s delicious that way), I like this smash, a muddling of lemon, mint, and amaro topped with grapefruit or blood orange soda. A little sweet, a little bitter, and very herbaceous, it’s my new signature cocktail (cause every gal should have one.)
How to Make the Amaro Smash Cocktail
- In a mixing glass, combine the amaro, a handful of mint, and several large pieces of orange zest. Muddle together well, then add the simple syrup and ice and stir.
- Strain into an ice-filled glass and top off with soda. Garnish with additional mint and orange zest.
- Cheers!
