Cardamaro Recipe

1. Chill glass

Place your serving glass (old fashioned/rocks glass) in the freezer for 5–10 minutes or fill it with ice water while you prepare the cocktail to chill it.

2. Combine ingredients

In a mixing glass or large bar glass, add 60 ml Cardamaro, 30 ml sweet vermouth, 10 ml complementary amaro (Montenegro or Averna), and 2 dashes orange bitters.

3. Add ice and stir

Fill the mixing glass with plenty of ice. Stir briskly but smoothly for 20–30 seconds (about 20–30 full turns) until the mixture is well-chilled and slightly diluted — the mixing glass should feel very cold to the touch.

4. Prepare serving glass

If you used ice water to chill the serving glass, dump the water and add a large ice cube (or leave it chilled if you prefer neat).

5. Strain and garnish

Using a julep or Hawthorne strainer, strain the stirred cocktail into the prepared rocks glass over the large ice cube (or neat if preferred). Express an orange peel over the drink by holding it skin-side down above the glass and giving it a quick twist to release the oils, then rub the peel around the rim and drop it into the drink as garnish.

6. Serve immediately. Optionally, for a slightly lighter profile, use 45 ml Cardamaro, 30 ml sweet vermouth, and 15 ml dry vermouth or a splash of soda; adjust bitters to taste.