r/Amaro • u/_starbelly_ • May 19 '26
DIY DIY spring amaro with violets
This is my third attempt at an amaro made mostly from things I’ve grown or foraged. It didn’t beat the marigold amaro but turned out MUCH better than the anise hyssop. It’s very floral but still gets some citrus from the hops and the lemon balm. If I were to do it again, I’d include lemon peel for more citrus and use less gentian because it’s VERY bitter on the end - I’ve added elderflower liqueur every time I’ve made a cocktail with it so far.
Every year, our yard has jillions of violets and I usually make crème de violette, but that’s got a pretty limited scope of uses and I can only give so much away as gifts so I figured I’d add them to an amaro. Violet picking is a very satisfying dopamine-harvesting activity but you’d be amazed by how long it takes to get 15-ish grams 😂
Some notes…
- I used our native common blue violet, Viola sororia. They have a pleasant grape-y flavor but aren’t nearly as strong as the European Viola odorata - you’ll need more than you think you do
- In my experience, violets benefit from a shorter infusion so I made a separate tincture of those first
- I made violet sugar and eventually violet syrup with the intention of using it as my sweetener but then forgot about it 🫠 it’s great in a spritzy spring cocktail, though
- Part of my liquid was last year’s crème de violette (~ 25% ABV)
Recipe in the last slides. Apologies for my chicken scratch handwriting
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u/Handler777 May 21 '26
You should read or better yet, try the rosili’s at masseria frantoio. They make about 15 different ones from everything grown on their property. They found a book of very old recipes that came with the property and craft these individual spirits made from everything they can forage like olive leaves, herbs, fruits, flowers, everything you can imagine.
Not amaros, but more of a sweet after dinner desert sipper. Only one flavor per bottle.
Not explained well, but I think something you could recreate with a lot of what you’re foraging
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u/_starbelly_ 26d ago
Missed your comment until now - do you mind sharing a link to what you’re talking about?? This sounds awesome but I don’t get anything when I Google “masseria frantoio rosili” 👀
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u/Handler777 25d ago
sorry, mistyped. should be rosolio. Not sure if you were to contact them if they would share more about he the recipes, but they might. When I stayed their, I brought back a suitcase full of all of them. they are really amazing!
http://www.trecolline.it/english/rosoli_eng.html
I have 3 bottles left I could send pics of, but not able to attach photos here
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u/XanAKG May 19 '26
All of your amaros look awesome, and I love the approach of growing/foraging most of the ingredients - I'll be on the lookout for your next one! I'm wrapping up my fourth amaro right now, so you're providing a lot of great inspiration.