18 Amaro Nonino Cocktails You Absolutely Need to Try This Season Updated 07/2026

Bittersweet, botanical, and endlessly sophisticated — Amaro Nonino is the Italian secret your home bar has been waiting for.

There is something undeniably intoxicating about a bottle of Amaro Nonino sitting on your bar cart. That warm amber glow, the promise of something layered and complex, the whisper of Italian mountain herbs and sun-kissed citrus peel. If you have ever sipped a Paper Plane and found yourself completely enchanted, you already know the magic this liqueur carries. And if you have not — well, you are in for one of the most delicious discoveries of your cocktail life.

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Amaro Nonino cocktails have been quietly trending among sophisticated home mixologists and professional bartenders alike, and for good reason. This is a liqueur that rewards curiosity. It plays beautifully with bourbon, dances with gin, flirts with tequila, and even holds its own alongside a splash of sparkling wine. Whether you are hosting a candlelit dinner party, unwinding after a long week, or simply treating yourself to something extraordinary on a cozy evening, the following recipes will transform your cocktail ritual into something truly elevated.

Read on for 18 gorgeous, deeply satisfying Amaro Nonino cocktails — from modern classics to creative originals — each one more beautiful and indulgent than the last.

What Is Amaro Nonino? A Love Story in a Bottle

Before we dive into the recipes, let us take a moment to appreciate just how special this liqueur actually is — because once you understand it, you will love it even more.

Amaro Nonino Quintessentia is an esteemed Italian herbal liqueur produced by the Nonino family, a name synonymous with quality distillation in Italy since 1897. The distillery is nestled in Friuli, a region in northeastern Italy that sits at the crossroads of Roman, Venetian, Celtic, and Slavic cultural influences — and that extraordinary cultural richness shows in every sip.

Known by the brand name Amaro Nonino Quintessentia, this Italian bitter liqueur was created in 1992 in Friuli, Northern Italy. What sets it apart from many other types of amaro is the fact that it is made with a grappa base — a grape-based brandy — which lends distinctively fruity notes to the flavor profile.

The unique blend includes sweet and bitter orange, rhubarb, thyme, gentian root, quinine bark, wormwood, tamarind, and a host of other spices and mountain herbs for a gently bittersweet and less syrupy amaro that can easily be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, in spritzes, or in cocktails.

The production process involves aging the infusion in oak barrels, which contributes to Amaro Nonino’s distinctive amber color and enriches its flavor profile with subtle woody notes.

Since the 1930s, Nonino has been making amaro by redistilling some grappa with a combination of herbs and botanicals before being aged for 5 years in a combination of barrels. After these complex flavors have had time to meld, the amaro is bottled at 35% alcohol.

What does it taste like? Amaro Nonino is equally bitter and sweet, with notes of orange, honey, vanilla, licorice, allspice, mango, pepper, and cocoa. It has a unique flavor that is less sweet than other amari but still easy to drink.

A Family Legacy Worth Celebrating

One of the most beautiful aspects of Amaro Nonino is that it carries a deeply personal story. The name Quintessentia was chosen to celebrate the alchemic achievement of the purest essence in the generational passage of the family recipe. The cup at the top and center of the label is the Bowl of Hygeia, a way to honor the origin of Amaro, historically born as a medicinal remedy.

Born in Friuli, a borderland and crossroads of several populations and manifold influences — Roman, Arabian, Celtic, Venetian, and Slavic — Amaro Nonino Quintessentia is the result of the Nonino alchemic art, enriched by important cultural contaminations and great knowledge of botanical varieties also coming from far and exotic lands.

Liqueur production started in 1933 when Nonino’s third-generation master distiller, Antonio, crafted Amaro Carnia, a precursor for Quintessentia made by infusing the brand’s grappa with bitter herbs and other botanicals. Come 1984, the Nonino family had created an entirely new category of grape spirit with the introduction of UÈ l’Acquavite d’Uva, a distillate produced from whole grapes. Eight years later, fifth-generation master distillers Antonella, Cristina, and Elisabetta Nonino replaced grappa with this grape distillate to craft the family’s amaro.

Did You Know?

• Originally produced in monasteries or pharmacies and sold as a health tonic in the 1800s, Amari are traditionally served chilled and neat as a digestive, sometimes with a citrus slice or twist, or diluted with tonic water and served over ice.
• In 2007, Sam Ross — a New York mixologist — created the Paper Plane, the cocktail with Amaro Nonino that made cocktail bars all over the world fall in love, and it has now become a “Modern Classic.” In 2016, the New York Times celebrated it as the representative of the “equal-parts cocktail” category.
• Amaro Nonino earned 96 Points from Wine Enthusiast, appearing in the publication’s Top 50 Spirits list.
• A 750ml bottle typically retails between $48 and $60, making it a luxurious but worthwhile investment for your home bar.

The Cocktails: 18 Amaro Nonino Recipes to Obsess Over

The Paper Plane (The Modern Classic)

This is where most love affairs with Amaro Nonino begin. Created by bartender Sam Ross in 2008, the Paper Plane gets its name from M.I.A.’s hit song “Paper Planes,” which was released that same year. According to Ross, the chart-topper was playing when he thought up the recipe for the bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice drink. Now a staple on bar menus worldwide, the Paper Plane perfectly skirts the line between sweet and bitter, offering notes of candied orange, nutty bourbon, and herbal botanicals.

The Vibe: Sophisticated, effortlessly cool, and timelessly balanced. Served in a chilled coupe glass with a curled lemon twist, the Paper Plane is a pale amber-gold cocktail with a gentle haze. It belongs at a dinner party, a rooftop gathering, or a quiet Friday evening when you want something that feels genuinely special.

Ingredients (makes 1 cocktail):

• 3/4 oz (22 ml) bourbon whiskey
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) Aperol
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) fresh lemon juice
• Lemon twist, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Chill a coupe glass in the freezer for at least 5 minutes.
2. Combine the bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon juice in a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds until very cold.
4. Double-strain into the chilled coupe glass.
5. Garnish with a long, elegantly curled lemon twist.

The Nonino Old Fashioned

A slower, more brooding cousin of the Paper Plane — this one wraps you up like a cashmere blanket on a cool autumn evening. The Amaro replaces the traditional sugar syrup, bringing botanical depth that a standard Old Fashioned can only dream of.

The Vibe: Deep mahogany in the glass, served over one large crystal-clear ice cube. Garnished with a wide orange peel expressing its oils over the surface, this drink has a candlelit, velvet-armchair kind of energy. It is the cocktail you make when you deserve something truly indulgent.

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Ingredients:

• 2 oz (60 ml) bourbon (a high-rye bourbon works beautifully here)
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 dash orange bitters
• Large ice cube
• Wide orange peel, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Place a large ice cube into a chilled rocks glass.
2. Combine the bourbon, Amaro Nonino, Angostura bitters, and orange bitters in a mixing glass filled with ice.
3. Stir gently but deliberately for 30 seconds to chill and dilute without over-watering the drink.
4. Strain over the large ice cube in the rocks glass.
5. Express the orange peel over the surface of the drink by bending it firmly, then drape it over the rim.

The Nonino Negroni (White Negroni Twist)

The classic Negroni is already a masterpiece. But when you swap out Campari for Amaro Nonino, something extraordinary happens: the drink becomes softer, more herbal, and unexpectedly floral. This variation is for the woman who loves complexity but finds traditional Negronis a touch too bitter.

The Vibe: A warm honey-amber color in a rocks glass over a single large ice sphere, garnished with a fresh thyme sprig and an orange wheel. It looks like a sunset in northern Italy, and it tastes like one too.

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Ingredients:

• 1 oz (30 ml) dry London gin
• 1 oz (30 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 1 oz (30 ml) sweet vermouth (Carpano Antica is lovely here)
• Orange wheel and fresh thyme sprig, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice or place one large ice sphere inside.
2. Combine the gin, Amaro Nonino, and sweet vermouth in a mixing glass filled with ice.
3. Stir for 25 to 30 seconds until well-chilled.
4. Strain over the ice in the rocks glass.
5. Garnish with a slice of orange and a fresh thyme sprig pressed gently between your fingers to release its fragrance.

The Amaro Nonino Spritz

Light, effervescent, and utterly gorgeous to look at — this is the cocktail you make when the afternoon sun is streaming through the window and life just feels good. The Spritz format opens up Amaro Nonino’s citrus notes beautifully, making it endlessly refreshing.

The Vibe: Bright amber-orange in a large wine glass filled with ice, topped with bubbles and adorned with a fresh orange slice and a sprig of rosemary. This is the aperitivo hour cocktail of your dreams.

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Ingredients:

• 2 oz (60 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 3 oz (90 ml) prosecco or dry sparkling wine
• 1 oz (30 ml) sparkling water
• Orange slice and rosemary sprig, for garnish
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Fill a large wine glass or balloon glass generously with ice.
2. Pour the Amaro Nonino over the ice.
3. Add the prosecco, pouring gently to preserve the bubbles.
4. Top with a splash of sparkling water.
5. Give the drink one gentle stir with a long bar spoon.
6. Garnish with a fresh orange slice and a rosemary sprig.

The Amaro Sour

Bright, vivacious, and zippy — the Amaro Sour is what happens when the Italian herbal world meets the classic sour template. The optional egg white creates a gorgeous, silky foam top that makes this drink look as beautiful as it tastes.

The Vibe: A frothy, cloud-capped cocktail in a rocks glass over ice, deep amber-orange beneath a white foam crown. A few drops of Angostura bitters dragged through the foam with a toothpick create an artful pattern that makes this drink look straight out of a craft cocktail bar.

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Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz (45 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) simple syrup
• 1 egg white (optional, for silky foam)
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters, for garnish
• Ice

Instructions:

1. If using egg white, add all ingredients to a shaker without ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds (dry shake).
2. Add ice to the shaker and shake again for another 15 seconds.
3. Double-strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
4. Carefully drop two dashes of Angostura bitters onto the foam surface and drag a toothpick through them to create a decorative pattern.
5. If skipping the egg white, simply combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake, and strain.

The Nonino Manhattan (Catcher in the Rye)

This sophisticated variation on the Manhattan swaps sweet vermouth for Amaro Nonino, creating a richer, more herbaceous drink that still has that deep, stirred, spirit-forward elegance. This riff on the Manhattan with Amaro Nonino Quintessentia was created at Le Lion Bar in Hamburg, considered one of the best cocktail bars in Germany, by Marian Gadzewski.

The Vibe: Inky dark amber in a classic coupe or Nick and Nora glass, crowned with a single Luxardo cherry and a lemon twist. This is the cocktail you order when you want the bartender to know you mean business — or when you want to impress every guest at your dinner table.

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Ingredients:

• 2 oz (60 ml) rye whiskey
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 1/4 oz (7 ml) sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 Luxardo maraschino cherry and lemon twist, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Chill a coupe or Nick and Nora glass in the freezer.
2. Combine the rye whiskey, Amaro Nonino, sweet vermouth, and bitters in a mixing glass filled with ice.
3. Stir slowly and deliberately for 35 to 40 seconds.
4. Strain into the chilled glass.
5. Garnish with a skewered Luxardo cherry and a beautifully expressed lemon twist.

The Amaro Nonino Tequila Sour (Lux-Capacitor Style)

Unexpected. Adventurous. Absolutely delicious. Tequila and Amaro Nonino share a surprising harmony — the agave’s earthiness plays beautifully against the botanical sweetness of the amaro, with grapefruit brightening the whole affair. This is the cocktail for the woman who likes to try something new.

The Vibe: A bright citrus-amber cocktail in a salt-rimmed rocks glass, garnished with a charred grapefruit wedge. It has the energy of a margarita but the depth and sophistication of something far more considered.

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Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz (45 ml) reposado tequila
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) fresh grapefruit juice
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) fresh lime juice
• 1/4 oz (7 ml) agave syrup
• 2 dashes grapefruit bitters
• Grapefruit peel or wedge, for garnish
• Optional: smoked salt rim

Instructions:

1. If desired, rim a rocks glass with smoked salt by running a lime wedge around the rim and dipping it in the salt.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Combine the tequila, Amaro Nonino, grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave syrup, and bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice.
4. Shake hard for 15 seconds.
5. Strain over the ice in the prepared glass.
6. Express a grapefruit peel over the top and use it as a garnish.

The Amaro Espresso Martini

Because everything is better with coffee — especially when Amaro Nonino is involved. The herbal bitterness of the amaro adds extraordinary complexity to the already beloved espresso martini, elevating it from a trending favorite into something truly memorable.

The Vibe: Jet-black and glossy in a martini glass, topped with a thick espresso foam and three coffee beans arranged in the center. This is the cocktail you make when dessert feels like too much effort but you still want something indulgent and grown-up at the end of a beautiful dinner.

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Ingredients:

• 1 oz (30 ml) vodka
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 1 oz (30 ml) freshly pulled espresso, cooled
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) coffee liqueur (Kahlúa works beautifully)
• 3 coffee beans, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Pull a shot of espresso and allow it to cool slightly — about 2 minutes.
2. Chill a martini or coupe glass in the freezer.
3. Combine the vodka, Amaro Nonino, cooled espresso, and coffee liqueur in a shaker with plenty of ice.
4. Shake very vigorously for 20 to 25 seconds — this is what creates that coveted foam.
5. Double-strain immediately into the chilled glass.
6. Place three coffee beans in the center of the foam and serve immediately.

The Busted Pipe (Bourbon and Amaro)

Simple, comforting, and deeply satisfying, this one is for those evenings when you want something that feels like a warm hug. It is similar in spirit to an Old Fashioned but with a bit more brightness from lemon and a slight bitterness from the amaro that lingers in the most pleasant way.

The Vibe: Golden brown and inviting in a rocks glass over ice, with a lemon twist and an orange wheel. This is a winter-by-the-fireplace cocktail, a Sunday-evening sipper, a drink that says you have excellent taste without trying too hard.

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Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz (45 ml) bourbon
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 1/4 oz (7 ml) fresh lemon juice
• 1 dash orange bitters
• Orange wheel and lemon twist, for garnish
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice.
2. Add the bourbon, Amaro Nonino, lemon juice, and orange bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
3. Stir for 20 to 25 seconds until well-chilled.
4. Strain over the ice in the rocks glass.
5. Garnish with a small orange wheel and a curled lemon twist.

The Amaro Nonino Champagne Cocktail

For celebrating the moments that deserve it — promotions, birthdays, anniversaries, or simply the fact that it is Thursday and you made it through the week. This cocktail layers the botanical sophistication of Amaro Nonino beneath a cascade of champagne bubbles for something truly extraordinary.

The Vibe: Pale amber fading into golden champagne in a tall flute or coupe, gently effervescent, adorned with a floating rose petal or thin citrus round. It is immediately festive, inherently elegant, and impossible not to photograph.

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Ingredients:

• 3/4 oz (22 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 1/4 oz (7 ml) fresh grapefruit juice
• 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
• 3 oz (90 ml) dry champagne or Crémant, to top
• Thin grapefruit round or dried rose petal, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Chill a champagne flute or coupe glass well.
2. Pour the Amaro Nonino and fresh grapefruit juice into the glass.
3. Add 2 dashes of Peychaud’s bitters.
4. Top slowly with cold champagne, allowing the bubbles to cascade naturally.
5. Do not stir — let the layers merge gently on their own.
6. Float a thin grapefruit round or dried rose petal on top.

The Amaro Nonino White Negroni (True Version)

The traditional White Negroni swaps Campari for Suze and Lillet Blanc for vermouth. This elevated version incorporates Amaro Nonino for even greater complexity, creating a drink that is simultaneously lighter and more interesting than the original classic.

The Vibe: Pale golden-honey in a coupe or Nick and Nora glass, crystal-clear and refined, garnished with a thin lemon wheel suspended elegantly inside the glass. This is a cocktail for people who are not afraid to know exactly what they want.

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Ingredients:

• 1 oz (30 ml) floral gin (Hendrick’s or a botanical-forward gin works well)
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) Lillet Blanc or dry white vermouth
• 1/4 oz (7 ml) elderflower liqueur
• Lemon wheel, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Chill a coupe or Nick and Nora glass in the freezer.
2. Combine the gin, Amaro Nonino, Lillet Blanc, and elderflower liqueur in a mixing glass filled with ice.
3. Stir for 30 seconds until very cold and slightly diluted.
4. Strain into the chilled glass.
5. Slide a thin lemon wheel into the glass as a garnish.

The Amaro Nonino Boulevardier

This drink is a compelling spin on the traditional Boulevardier cocktail. It was expertly crafted to highlight the deep and rich flavors of Amaro Nonino while also striking the ideal balance between the boldness of rye whiskey and the sweetness of red vermouth. Think of it as the Boulevardier’s more sophisticated, well-traveled sibling.

The Vibe: Ruby-amber, stirred and served up in a coupe glass with a branded cherry on a pick and a wide strip of orange peel spiraling down the stem of the glass. Rich, dark, and slightly mysterious.

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Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz (45 ml) rye whiskey
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) sweet red vermouth (Cinzano Rosso or Carpano Antica)
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• Orange peel and Luxardo cherry, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Chill a coupe glass in the freezer.
2. Combine the rye, Amaro Nonino, sweet vermouth, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice.
3. Stir slowly for 35 seconds.
4. Strain into the chilled coupe.
5. Express a wide orange peel over the surface and drape it over the edge.
6. Add a Luxardo cherry on a cocktail pick.

The Nonino Mule

A sophisticated spin on the beloved Moscow Mule that trades the usual vodka for Amaro Nonino, making this a much more interesting drink without sacrificing any of the refreshing quality you love. The ginger beer adds a welcome spicy kick that plays perfectly against the amaro’s botanical sweetness.

The Vibe: Served in a traditional copper mug over crushed ice, with a bright lime wheel, a sprig of fresh mint, and a thin slice of crystallized ginger perched on the rim. It is endlessly photogenic and absolutely delicious.

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Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz (45 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) fresh lime juice
• 4 oz (120 ml) premium ginger beer
• Lime wheel, fresh mint, and crystallized ginger, for garnish
• Crushed ice

Instructions:

1. Fill a copper mug generously with crushed ice.
2. Pour the Amaro Nonino and fresh lime juice over the ice.
3. Top with ginger beer and give the drink one or two gentle stirs.
4. Garnish with a lime wheel, a generous sprig of fresh mint (slapped between your hands to release the fragrance), and a piece of crystallized ginger.

The Amaro Rum Gentleman

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Inspired by Caribbean Old Fashioned traditions, this cocktail is rich, warming, and seasonally beautiful. It pairs the herbal complexity of Amaro Nonino with aged rum’s natural sweetness and a hint of smokiness that makes it perfect for autumn and winter gatherings.

With two rums, sherry, and Amaro Nonino, it offers notes of hazelnut, candied citrus, and baking spices.

The Vibe: Dark golden amber in a rocks glass over one large ice cube, with a wide orange peel and a muddled clove tucked alongside. It smells like the holidays and tastes like a warm fireplace. Exactly what you want in your hand when the temperature drops.

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Ingredients:

• 1 oz (30 ml) aged rum (El Dorado 12 Year or similar)
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) dry fino sherry
• 1/4 oz (7 ml) fig preserves or fig syrup
• 4 whole cloves, muddled
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• Large ice cube
• Orange peel, for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a mixing glass, muddle 4 whole cloves gently to release their aromatics.
2. Add the aged rum, Amaro Nonino, sherry, fig preserves or syrup, and Angostura bitters.
3. Fill with ice and stir for 30 seconds.
4. Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
5. Garnish with a generously expressed orange peel.

The Italian in NYC

Simple, understated, and quietly brilliant. This three-ingredient stirred cocktail is for the woman who knows that less is more when every element is truly excellent. It is the sort of drink you find in intimate cocktail bars with low lighting and soft jazz.

The Vibe: Deep amber in a Nick and Nora glass, clear and luminous, with a single perfectly preserved Luxardo cherry at the bottom. There is nothing fussy here — just elegance in its simplest form.

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Ingredients:

• 2 oz (60 ml) bourbon
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• 1 Luxardo cherry, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Chill a Nick and Nora glass or small coupe in the freezer.
2. Combine the bourbon, Amaro Nonino, and orange bitters in a mixing glass filled with ice.
3. Stir slowly for 40 seconds — long and deliberate — to achieve the perfect dilution.
4. Strain into the chilled glass.
5. Drop a single Luxardo cherry into the bottom of the glass.

The Amaro Nonino Tropical Spritz

Who says amaro has to be a cold-weather drink? This bright, tropical-inspired spritz leans into Amaro Nonino’s hidden mango and citrus notes, pairing them with coconut water and pineapple for a drink that makes any afternoon feel like a vacation.

The Vibe: Warm golden-orange in a tall glass over crushed ice, garnished with a fresh pineapple wedge, a lime wheel, and an edible flower. This is the cocktail that belongs at a garden party, a bridal brunch, or a summer rooftop in the city.

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Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz (45 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 1 oz (30 ml) fresh pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) fresh lime juice
• 2 oz (60 ml) coconut water
• 2 oz (60 ml) prosecco
• Pineapple wedge, lime wheel, and edible flower, for garnish
• Crushed ice

Instructions:

1. Fill a tall glass with crushed ice.
2. Pour the Amaro Nonino, pineapple juice, lime juice, and coconut water over the ice.
3. Stir gently to combine.
4. Top with prosecco, pouring slowly to preserve the bubbles.
5. Garnish with a pineapple wedge on the rim, a lime wheel, and a beautiful edible flower.

The Nonino Honey Bee

Inspired by the classic Bees Knees cocktail but elevated with Amaro Nonino’s botanical heart, this is a gorgeous, golden, floral cocktail that feels both nostalgic and completely modern at the same time.

The Vibe: Honey-gold and crystal-clear in a chilled coupe glass, with a delicate strip of lemon peel curled inside and a single sprig of fresh lavender across the rim. It is everything beautiful about spring in a glass.

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Ingredients:

• 1 oz (30 ml) floral gin
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) raw honey syrup (equal parts raw honey and warm water, stirred to combine)
• 1 sprig fresh lavender, for garnish
• Lemon peel, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Chill a coupe glass well.
2. Combine the gin, Amaro Nonino, fresh lemon juice, and honey syrup in a shaker with plenty of ice.
3. Shake vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds.
4. Double-strain into the chilled coupe.
5. Curl a thin strip of lemon peel and drop it inside the glass.
6. Lay a sprig of fresh lavender across the rim.

The Nonino Scotch Smoke Signal

Daring, complex, and unapologetically bold — this is a cocktail for the adventurous woman who loves a challenge. The Inside Baseball was originally created to serve to other bartenders, featuring Scotch, Amaro Nonino, and an unexpected mix of bitter liqueurs. This version simplifies that idea into something singularly seductive.

The Vibe: Smoky amber-gold in a rocks glass over a large sphere of ice, with a long orange twist spiraling elegantly around the inside of the glass. You can smell the peat before you even take a sip. This is one for cold winter evenings and great conversation.

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Ingredients:

• 1 oz (30 ml) blended Scotch whisky
• 1/4 oz (7 ml) peaty single malt Scotch (like Laphroaig or Ardbeg)
• 3/4 oz (22 ml) Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 1/4 oz (7 ml) sweet sherry (Amontillado)
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• Large ice sphere
• Long orange twist, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Place a large ice sphere into a rocks glass.
2. Combine both Scotches, Amaro Nonino, sherry, and bitters in a mixing glass filled with ice.
3. Stir for 35 seconds until well-chilled.
4. Strain over the ice sphere.
5. Express a long orange twist and spiral it carefully around the inside of the glass before resting the end over the rim.

How to Store and Serve Amaro Nonino

Once you open a bottle of Amaro Nonino, store it in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. Unlike wine, it does not need to be refrigerated, though serving it lightly chilled over ice or at room temperature are both perfectly wonderful options. An opened bottle will remain at its peak for about 12 to 18 months, though the herbal notes may subtly evolve over time.

For the purist: serve 1.5 oz neat in a small cordial glass at the end of dinner, slightly chilled. The Italians have been doing this for over a century, and they are absolutely right.

For the cocktail lover: use it as a 3/4 oz modifier in spirit-forward stirred drinks, or as a full 1.5 oz base in shaken sours and spritz-style cocktails. Amaro Nonino is remarkably versatile — it rarely fights with other spirits and almost always makes a cocktail better.

What to Pair With Amaro Nonino Cocktails

The right food pairing can make your Amaro Nonino cocktail experience even more memorable. Consider these beautiful pairings:

Dark chocolate truffles — The bittersweet cocoa mirrors the amaro’s own bittersweet personality, creating a luxurious loop of flavor. Choose truffles with an orange or herb filling for maximum harmony.

Aged hard cheeses — Parmigiano-Reggiano, aged Gouda, or a sharp Manchego all have enough complexity to stand up to the amaro without competing with it.

Charcuterie and cured meats — The herbaceous quality of Amaro Nonino cuts through the richness of cured meats beautifully. Serve with a prosciutto and melon pairing for a particularly Italian approach.

Citrus-forward desserts — Lemon tarts, orange polenta cake, or grapefruit panna cotta all echo the citrus notes in the amaro while the sweetness of the dessert balances the bitterness in the drink.

Roasted nuts — Hazelnuts and almonds in particular bring out the subtle nuttiness hidden in Amaro Nonino’s botanical profile.

Your New Favorite Bottle

There is a reason Amaro Nonino has become the darling of the cocktail world over the past decade. It is beautiful to look at, extraordinary to smell, and endlessly rewarding to drink. Whether you are mixing your first Paper Plane or experimenting with the Nonino Scotch Smoke Signal on a cold night, every cocktail made with this Italian masterpiece carries with it more than a century of family tradition, botanical artistry, and a deep love for the pleasure of a perfectly crafted drink.

Buy a bottle. Open it. Taste it neat first — just a small sip to understand what you are working with. Then start mixing, experimenting, and sharing. The world of Amaro Nonino cocktails is wide, welcoming, and endlessly delicious.

Salute.

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Sources: https://chesbrewco.com
Category: Cocktails