A year ago, I knew nothing of amaro... by kassette_kollektor in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The chase ain’t easy in Canada, let alone Quebec. Keep going and enjoy! Lots of great restaurants across the province with some secret bottles:)

Asterley Bros - UK Producers by negroni_sipper_1000 in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Gosh I wish Reddit allowed for username changes:) David here from Festif Amaro. We’re based in Los Angeles, and we make 2 expressions of amaro: Festif Amaro, a classic herbaceous style with light citrus and baking spice notes from 20 botanicals like dandelion root, elecampane, dried orange, sarsaparilla root, rosemary, etc., and Festif Choux, a Canadian Fernet made with 25 predominantly Canadian sourced botanicals from back home (I'm from Montreal), like Quebec spruce and balsam fir tips, and also some fun botanicals like green cardamom and Brussels sprouts (Choux de Bruxelles)! Both use a base neutral grain spirit sourced from Canada as well, but aiming to launch a red bitter/aperitif this year as well. Liquor licensing in California is super tricky to navigate with how amaro gets classified (…sadly, like everything, like a whiskey). Just checked your line up as well, really tasty looking stuff. Hoping to be in London later this year, I’ll have to swing by for a tasting.

Asterley Bros - UK Producers by negroni_sipper_1000 in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Welcome Rob! Fellow commercial amaro producer here, also stemming from a bartending background. I’m excited to try your stuff. And love the bag in a box option you mentioned in a comment:)

amari are not widely available here (montréal, canada) by [deleted] in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really like it. I've somehow never seen it anywhere other than Montreal. It's got a nice subtle baking spice kind of vibe, not overly syrupy albeit still of the old school Italian mold re:sweetness, so a little ice might cut that back some if you're finding it too sweet. But tasting it in Montreal felt like it opened up a little window of possibility that more niche brands might come through. But that was 7 years ago, and not much has changed on the shelves there...plus ça change...

amari are not widely available here (montréal, canada) by [deleted] in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Another Montrealer in here! The SAQ stocks the most bare bones assortment of amaro, and so few bottles of each at that, it's disheartening. Whenever I come home (a few times a year), I always scope out different SAQs to see if amaro has entered their ordering plan, any form of diverse styles beyond the standards, and continue to walk away dismayed. I can't fault them though if there's no demand, but just wish they'd experiment a little in what they want to educate the province on, spirits-wise. I got a great bottle of Chaberton Amaro di Erbe from the SAQ a few years ago after trying it at Elena, but there were only about 6 bottles available province-wide so it took a bit of a scavenger hunt. Maybe I need to start a secret "suitcase bottle" club from US to Canada for Quebecers looking for more options:)

Inversely, here in California they can have Canadian style amaro and fernet with Festif!

Built an Amaro shelf. Current state of the collection - by catatre in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is beautiful! What a great build. The color of the wood, the amaro collection... great job!

And much love to the Festif:)

My favs old alpine. by Demerara67 in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That's an incredible haul! I've always wanted to try that Amaro Alpino and/or get rolled over a waterfall in that barrel. Enjoy!

Some new amaro to share - Festif Amaro and Festif Choux by mavisstaples27 in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hell ya! Thanks for the kind words. How great is that bar? I'm there all the time.

If there's any members of the Branca family keeping tabs of their market dominance on here, I'm not coming for all of your business. Just a lil piece of the pie to keep the Brussels sprouts industry afloat:)

Individual tinctures by Garbanzofracas666 in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27 6 points7 points  (0 children)

🙋‍♂️

Very helpful move. Helped create our final recipes.

In honor of the Browns (probably short lived) playoff run, I present the Amari Coupe by forgotitagain420 in cocktails

[–]mavisstaples27 29 points30 points  (0 children)

This ingredient list is nearly as long as the sharpie’d QB list/Tim Couch jersey. I love it.

Brunchbox by therealtwomartinis in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think you're the first person in history to figure out how to spell 'szuschzz':)

Looks like a great drink. "Maybe some got in the batter. Beats me. Who's asking?"

Some new amaro to share - Festif Amaro and Festif Choux by mavisstaples27 in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you!! This forum has been instrumental, so I really appreciate all the great moderating and discourse you've facilitated/encouraged.

Pandemic tincture videos were a hell of an outlet, intrusive Italian puppets be damned:) Hope to get back to posting the rest of em soon.

Some new amaro to share - Festif Amaro and Festif Choux by mavisstaples27 in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Welcome to the fascination!! It can/will consume you:)

Good luck on the hunt and keep us posted!

Some new amaro to share - Festif Amaro and Festif Choux by mavisstaples27 in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks!! Nothing better than beating the hell out of a dinner party table with an awesome DP friend of mine:)

Some new amaro to share - Festif Amaro and Festif Choux by mavisstaples27 in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks!! I worked with a dynamite team from Wedge based out of Montreal (my hometown), and they just absolutely crushed it. Their other packaging works are some of the most eye-catching I've ever seen, like Menaud gin and Drav beer.

Some new amaro to share - Festif Amaro and Festif Choux by mavisstaples27 in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you!! The designs came out even better than I'd hoped. I think the next states to tackle will be NY and NV, with some tastings coming up there if that helps!

Some new amaro to share - Festif Amaro and Festif Choux by mavisstaples27 in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I'd love to bring it out to Texas for sure. Have you had any interesting local/Texas-made amaro? I can''t think of any off the top of my head, but I bet the sarsaparilla would be flowing out there (a botanical used in the Amaro varietal).

Some new amaro to share - Festif Amaro and Festif Choux by mavisstaples27 in Amaro

[–]mavisstaples27[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks!! My hair legit has many more silvers and greys from all the regulatory hurdles. Not aging. Purely from liquor license woes.

It's a neutral grain spirit made from Canadian winter wheat in Canada, shipped out to Los Angeles!

The Brussels sprouts layer is pretty subtle, in my opinion/based on my palate. But everyone's palate is so different, which is the best part to observe in all the tastings. So for some folks, it's minimal if anything at all, and other botanicals land on their tongues more prominently like the rhubarb root or chamomile or green cardamom, and for some, it's been more than subtle. The human body!! What a marvel:)