Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1013885
CATEGORY REPORT AMARO PELLEGRINO BRINGS MARSALA BACK TO ITS ROOTS In 1773, English traders with knowledge of Port, Madeira, and Jerez Sherry hap- pened to make a fortuitous stop in the western Sicilian town of Marsala. They quickly became enamored with the locally crafted liqueur and used their knowledge of fortified wine production to introduce Marsala wine to the world. Cantine Pellegrino was founded in 1880, nearly 100 years after this pivotal moment. The company is and always has been family-owned and -operated, and while Pellegrino has focused mostly on wine production, it's recently taken the company— and the region—back to its roots with the introduction of Amaro Pellegrino. Once overshadowed by Marsala production, Pellegrino's 100-year-old original recipe has been resurrected to showcase the distinctive aromatics of Marsala's Mediterranean bushes. With an aroma of bitter oranges, mint, cocoa, licorice, and toasted coffee—as well as its bitter yet balanced palate—this velvety amaro is equally delicious when paired with dessert, consumed as an after-meal digestif, served neat, or incorporated in a cocktail made with one part Amaro Pellegrino and two parts tonic water over ice. FREDERICK WILDMAN & SONS A TASTE OF THE SEASONS: SALISH SEA ORGANIC MAPLE LIQUEUR Anyone who's visited the Puget Sound region knows the beauty of the Salish Sea. Sam Desner, owner of Salish Sea Organic Liqueurs, takes inspiration from this incredible landscape to produce high-quality spirits in small quantities. He makes more than 23 expressions in single-gallon batches, giving him the freedom to make unexpected and exciting flavors. Already looking ahead to the colder months, Desner made one of his newest expressions, Maple ($36), with maple sugar sourced from Vermont. This sweet spirit—the first direct-to-bottle liqueur released by the brand—comes with layers of smoke and butter, making it perfect to pair with whiskies and holiday-themed cocktails. Every time we check back with Desner, he has impres- sive new flavors in the works—we can only guess (and eagerly anticipate) what he'll come up with next. SALISH SEA ORGANIC LIQUEURS knows This released impres- (and LIQUEURS 1 12 / the tasting panel / august 2018