Summer aperitivo hour traditionally Sicilian with the Averna Ritual

The authentic ritual of drinking Averna is as simple as it is timeless. The amaro is sipped over ice from a softly curved glass that opens Averna’s complexity with each movement. Before sipping, it’s garnished with a single twist of orange peel to enliven the senses. Averna’s herbaceous bitterness is best balanced with traditional Sicilian sweets and shared with good company. 

Averna Ritual

Ingredients:

2 parts Averna

Garnish: an assortment of seasonal citrus zests (lemon, orange) and herbs (sage, mint, lavender, thyme or rosemary)

Method: Pour Averna into a small tumbler or brandy snifter and add three ice cubes to the glass. Add lemon or orange zest and/or a seasonal herb, such as sage in the fall, rosemary in the winter, lavender in the spring or mint in the summer. Gently swirl the glass to blend the aromatics.

Averna Limonata

This sparkling Sicilian highball is in season any time of year, blending the bright citrus notes of Averna with fresh lemon juice for a light, refreshing take on a bittersweet aperitivo.

Ingredients:

2 Parts Averna

1 Part Lemon Juice

1/2 Part Simple Syrup

Club Soda

Method: Serve swizzle style with crushed ice; garnish with seasonal herbs (mint, rosemary, or sage). Top with soda water.

Averna Soda

Sicily is not just a part of Italy, it is way more than that. A colorful island that sits right at the edge of Africa, at the gateway of the world. That is probably what inspired the Benedictine monks who created Averna more than a century ago, infusing a diverse bouquet of Mediterranean herbs along with its glorious citruses. Now, take that inspiration and mix it without effort with crisp, refreshing soda. Possibly at sunset. As Averna pours into the Highball glass, its citrusy flavor is unleashed. The result will be a rich, full-bodied taste, with a bubbly energy that’s best served with ice and topped with orange peel and rosemary.

Ingredients:

2 parts Averna

Soda

Method: Add Averna to a highball glass with ice and top with soda. Garnish with an orange peel and rosemary.

Saluti!