Poor Toms Imbroglio

Appearance: See-through light pinkish-red. Resembles weak raspberry syrup or a rosé wine. Nose: From Australia. A mix of local plants with a familiar Aussie scent. It gives off a vibe of a small-town gift shop, complete with bowls of potpourri, scented drawer liners, and incense sticks made from native botanicals (and also has notes of a particular classic Italian amaro). Taste and Feel: A sweet citrus flavor appears, followed by a mild bitter tang in the background, though the sweetness balances the bitterness. As it develops, more citrus tastes emerge, along with native herbs, leaves, and root extracts (could it be finger lime? Davidsonia plum? lemon myrtle leaf? lemon tea-tree bark and leaf?). The consistency is like diluted syrup, with a brisk alcoholic quality that keeps it from being too sweet. Imbroglio means "difficulty," "predicament," "puzzle," or even "dispute." It's a fitting name for an amaro. This is a gentle, easily enjoyed new-world amaro. Very "delicate" (if modern sensibilities permit such a description). It's smooth, only slightly bitter, and overall pleasant and mild. It's far less intense than many Italian amaros and generally less medicinal, with minimal to no mint flavors. Interestingly, it does bear a slight resemblance to Cynar amaro, even though I'm quite sure it doesn't contain artichoke extract (though I could be mistaken). Think of Angostura bitters, but stronger and sweeter. It's no surprise that Poor Toms Distillery in Marrickville, Sydney, produced this (not far from Archie Rose Distillery in Rosebery). They've built a strong local reputation for their excellent gins, and a hint of that gin-botanical background is present here. My only reservation is the color, which I don't find attractive. It looks like water tinted with red food coloring. Perhaps the color is natural from the production process, but it seems artificially pink. In any event, I would have preferred a touch of E150a caramel coloring for a more muted shade, but that's just my preference, and I'm sure most people will be content with it as is. Quite enjoyable on its own, but not really suited as a post-meal or pre-meal drink. It shines as the base for a spritz or in mixed beverages. For instance: 30 ml of your preferred bourbon 15 ml of Imbroglio amaro... served in an old-fashioned glass with a large ice sphere and topped with Coke or... 60ml Imbroglio amaro 60ml prosecco pour over a tall glass packed with ice and top with sparkling soda water Delicious! Given the price, it deserves a spot in every Australian home bar. "Good, almost Very Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars)