Amaro Bràulio

Appearance: Clear brown, like strong tea. Aroma: Notes of benzoin, storax, aloe, a touch of peppermint and spearmint, pine needles, dried chamomile, licorice root (not candy), cassia, myrrh, sawdust, and a hint of camphor. Flavor and Texture: Sweet, balanced herbal notes at first. As it sits on the tongue, earthy, root-spice flavors emerge with several resinous elements like pine sap, mastic gum, licorice root extract, and more. Minty notes are present, along with gentian, wormwood, and chamomile. It has unmatched complexity and balance. The finish nears bitterness but retreats, leaving a sweet cola-herbal aftertaste. The texture is rich, heavy, and full, yet not syrupy or cloying; it actually has a crisp, fresh quality. For my third review of classic amari, I decided to tackle what might be the most intricate of them all. Bràulio is a bold yet composed expression of iconic earthy aromas and flavors, featuring root-spices, herbs, and resin extracts. Smelling it is like stumbling upon an herb garden in a spruce forest sawmill while sipping slightly sweetened chamomile tea. It also possesses a very old-fashioned medicinal character. I don't mean medicinal in the way it's often used for whisky, referring to that "iodine/hospital antiseptic" aroma found in some Islay whiskies – this is more akin to mercurochrome or friar's balsam. It's earthier and more herbal, resembling the scent of an old-time medicine cabinet. It's delightful as a digestif and is one of the few amari that can be enjoyed equally when chilled from the freezer, neat over ice, at room temperature, or gently warmed. It can be used in cocktails, but I prefer it neat – it somehow feels wrong to compromise such perfect balance (though I admit it's delicious as a long drink over ice with an orange slice and soda water). Fernet Branca might be the king of amari, due to its noble and uncompromising profile, but Bràulio is undoubtedly its more charismatic younger sibling – the one everyone truly desires on the throne. "Excellent": 88/100 (4.5 stars)

One of the superior alpine amari available. Amaro Braulio is highly adaptable and excellent either neat or in cocktails. While its price is slightly higher than other amari, I still consider it a staple in my collection. The pine and mint aromas are very pronounced. The palate is dominated by menthol, but it's also sweet with hints of clove. The bitterness is present but not overwhelming like Fernet Branca. The finish has no burn whatsoever, is quite herbal, and has a touch of spice. I find this more compelling than Fernet Branca, and although it's not called for in cocktails as frequently as Fernet Branca, I believe it's better and often performs more effectively. It's also superior when enjoyed neat. Admittedly, it costs a good $10+ more than Fernet Branca, but I consider it well worth the expense.

An outstanding Alpine Amaro. It's very delicate and smooth, yet the underlying flavors are discernible. Abundant mint, pine, fennel, cinnamon, and tobacco notes. It reminds me of Fernet but is sweeter and significantly milder.

Pleasant. It seems to lack the ingredient I typically notice in amaro. A bit too sweet for my preference, not very bitter. Excellent when mixed 50/50 with Sfumato Rabarbaro.

Initially quite bitter, but with subsequent sips, it evolves into that classic chalky, herbaceous Amaro character. Hints of peppermint are also detectable.

A classic alpine amaro. It's distinctly minty, but not overpoweringly so. Starts quite sweet, but finishes with a balanced herbal bitterness.