Tradition and region are cornerstones of many herbal liqueurs. Chartreuse, Bénédictine, Fernet-Branca, Amaro Bràulio, Amaro Montenegro, Amaro Averna—many of the best-known examples have been crafted in idyllic mountain regions of France and Italy for centuries. With local botanicals and spices, each bottle offers a taste of its surroundings.
Whether in New York City or Jackson Hole, Wyoming, New World distillers can do the same. Contemporary craft producers are proving that they can honor the tradition of those European liqueurs while adapting them to their own surroundings, thereby crafting their own unique expressions.
Using a similar approach to that of Carthusian monks in the 17th century, today’s distiller can bottle an evocative taste of Bellingham, Washington; of Denver; or of wherever you happen to be.