Averna e More


Averna e More


I know. It sounds like Averna amore, but that’s what’s been going on around here. I have been drinking a lot of this Sicilian amaro lately. I am accustomed to consuming Averna neat (undiluted, at room temperature, no ice) or straight up (with ice.) Then I came across a cocktail called a Blackberry Smash, a bracing mix of Meyer lemon juice, ginger beer, orange-flavored vodka, muddled blackberries and Averna.


Blackberries


The dark fruity flavor of the blackberries and the citrus married beautifully with the Averna, but Bart found it a touch too astringent. So I got busy and fiddled a little, figuring some simple syrup might take the edge off. Then it dawned on me that fresh basil would complement the herbaceous notes of the Amaro Averna. So I added a bit of basil simple syrup to sweeten the drink and cut down on the perceived astringency, and this baby was born.

Averna Amaro Siciliano


I have been making this drink with Eureka lemons. If you’ve got Meyer lemons on hand, they’d also be wonderful. Don’t skimp on the orange-flavored vodka. Use a premium brand, like Grey Goose.




Cheers! For those of you who have been following my remodel, check out the shots of our progress at the bottom of this article. And trust me, with a project of this magnitude, a cocktail helps. For more on Averna, click here.




Averna e More

Averna e More


serves 1

1/3 cup blackberries, plus berries to garnish
1 oz. Amaro Averna
1 oz. orange-flavored vodka
½ oz. fresh lemon juice
1 oz. basil simple syrup (recipe follows)
2 ounces (or more) Fever-Tree ginger beer
basil sprig to garnish

Fill a rocks glass ¾ full with ice cubes. Drop cup of blackberries into a cocktail shaker and muddle well. Pour Averna, vodka, lemon juice, basil simple syrup, and a few ice cubes into the shaker and shake for 30 seconds. Strain into the rocks glass. Top with ginger beer, and garnish with a few berries and a sprig of basil. Serve at once.


Basil Simple Syrup

Simple syrup is quick and easy to make and has many different uses in the kitchen. It can be plain, just sugar and water, or it can be flavored with anything from anise to vanilla, or as here, basil. Plain, it is the ideal sweetener for cold drinks – no need to worry about your sugar not dissolving. Mix it with spirits to moisten layers of cake. A simple rule of thumb for flavoring simple syrup is if you are using herbs, such as mint or basil, add them at the beginning right along with the sugar and water. If you are adding spirits, do so after you remove the finished syrup from the flame. Generously flavored with basil, this syrup is wonderful over fresh fruit or as a sweetening agent for lemonade or mixed drinks.

2 cups basil leaves
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water

Place all ingredients in medium saucepan. Heat over medium high until sugar has dissolved and mixture has come to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. Mixture will be completely clear when sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Cool, strain and store in refrigerator up to 5 days.

Click here for another use for basil simple syrup.

Averna and Fever-Tree ginger beer are available at BevMo! and Mission Wine and Spirits and other purveyors.


Progress


Note: You can click on any picture and see a slide show!

I have no affiliation with any product, manufacturer, or site mentioned in this article.

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98 Comments

  1. Ping from Bam's Kitchen:

    Adri, this is a gorgeous cocktail and looks so refreshing. I hope it takes away of the bit of the pain of renovations. Glad to see you back in action. Take care, BAM

  2. Ping from Chiara:

    Dear Adri,I’m glad to see that your home is growing, I can not wait to see the final photos especially those of your new kitchen ! When you go to live there?This is a great recipe, Averna with blackberry looks divine! Have a good day my dear, un abbraccio, alla prossima !

    • Ping from Adri:

      Ciao Chiara,

      Yes, our home is coming along, and I think that in late spring of next year we will move in. I have come to love Averna – it is so complex and has so many layers of flavor. I hope you try this one. Un bacione a te!

  3. Ping from Tandy | Lavender and Lime:

    oh, I love the sound of this cocktail! I shall have to see what I can get in France next week 🙂

  4. Ping from Angie@Angie's Recipes:

    mmm..those black berries…heavenly!

  5. Ping from Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella:

    I don’t think I’ve ever tried Averna but that blackberry smash sounds so good! 😮

  6. Ping from Susan:

    What a brilliant idea to add the basil simple syrup! I can’t wait to try some of that myself and the cocktail itself with the blackberries looks beautiful. What a project you have there. Yes, I think that’s a two cocktail remodel 🙂

    • Ping from Adri:

      Hi Susan,

      When I was trying to soften the edges of this one for Bart the idea of simple syrup popped into my head. Then I got to thinking of the multiplicity of flavors in Averna, and I thought that basil simple syrup would be the smart woman’s answer to this one. I was right. This one is really good. I hope you give it a try. Cheers!

  7. Ping from bellini:

    I’m in Adri.

  8. Ping from Anthony Fama:

    Adri this cocktail sounds absolutely delicious

  9. Ping from David:

    The cocktail sounds so refreshing. I have to say that we (in the U.S.) are just beginning to understand the magical world of Italian bitters. They make the best aperitivi. Like everyone else, I can’t wait to see the house finished… but I know you want that more than anyone! A presto, David

    • Ping from Adri:

      Hi David,

      I love going to my neighborhood liquor store these days. It seems that at every visit the shelves are stocked with another amaro or other Italian liquor. These things are works of art, and I love that Americans are beginning to enjoy them. I hope you give this drink a try. We loved it. Thanks for stopping by!

      • Ping from David:

        I do plan to try it – the only things I don’t have are the orange vodka and the Averna. Both easily remedied with a quick stop at Total Wine. Oh, and we make our own ginger beer so I will probably use that! 🙂

        • Ping from Adri:

          Hi David,

          You make you OWN ginger beer! WOW. I bet it is wonderful. Here is another one with Averna and ginger beer. This one has lots of citrus, and, I bet you will enjoy it. And how about a post on how you make your ginger beer? I would love to learn.

  10. Ping from marcela:

    wow! it’s gonna be a great house! I can’t wait to see it finished!
    I’d gladly drink a bottle of your Averna!

  11. Ping from Chronica Domus:

    Oh, thank you! This recipe will provide me with yet another way of using up my bounty of Eureka lemons that seems never ending. I assume you have a Eureka lemon tree too and share a similar predicament. Even with neglect, those lemons keep on coming!

    • Ping from Adri:

      Benvenuta!

      Indeed, talk about a prolific tree. Eureka may well win the award. I hope you enjoy this one. And see if you can find Fever-Tree ginger beer. It really is a superior product. Thanks for stopping by! CHeers!

  12. Ping from cheri:

    Hi Adri, this drink sounds wonderful, looks like you have a great view. Good luck with your remodel.

  13. Ping from Laney (Ortensia Blu):

    Seriously…I could drink a pitcher of these!

  14. Ping from Amy @ Fearless Homemaker:

    Oh, what a divine sounding drink! I remember you tweeting about it recently, and I was thinking how much I wanted one for myself in that very moment. Yum! And how wonderfully versatile is basil simple syrup? It’s one of my favorite ingredients in drinks, both alcholic and non. Hope fab drinks like this help fuel you through your remodel – looks like it’s progressing well!

    • Ping from Adri:

      Hi Amy,

      We really enjoyed this one. It had just enough sweetness to make it go down very easily. Plus with all the anti-oxidants in the blackberries, it is good for you too! Thanks for stopping by.

  15. Ping from Kelly @ Trial and Eater:

    So many great flavors in here! Sounds fancy and delicious 🙂

  16. Ping from Trevor:

    I’m glad you have been giving Averna its due. It wasn’t something I was all too familiar with but upon discovering it I’ve gone through several bottles recently. Neat. Like you. Until now… I am now inspired to get creative. And fruity!

    • Ping from Adri:

      Hi Trevor,

      Get fruity! I am pazza for Averna, and I can’t wait to see what you come up with. I bet it will be wonderful. I am SO glad to see you back. Your absence was duly noted and lamented. Un abbraccio forte!

  17. Ping from sippitysup:

    Oh. First line in and you stole my joke. Now I’m going to have to read the whole thing again and try to think of a new one. GREG

  18. Ping from Hannah:

    With all your tempting recipes, you’ll turn me into a genuine drinker! That looks so delicious and refreshing, like summer in a glass, but maybe even better. I just went raspberry picking though so I might need to try this with raspberries instead of blackberries. 😉

    • Ping from Adri:

      Hi Hannah,

      I just love these Italian amari. They are delicious, multi-layered things, and they make the most extraordinary cocktails. Sometimes they can be pretty challenging as some of them have a real bitter edge. This one, Averna, is on the mild side, and it marries beautifully with citrus and ginger beer. I hope you give this one a try.

  19. Ping from Kitchen Belleicious:

    the project looks like it is coming along nicely and I LOVE this cocktail. It sure does look refreshing with the perfect balance of sweetness!

  20. Ping from Ciao Chow Linda:

    You have really introduced us to some wonderful cocktails Adri. I don’t know how you come up with these great ideas – but they ought to be bound and published in a cocktail book. I love seeing the construction work transpiring. What a project and what a great house you’re going to have when it’s done. No wonder you need to concoct these drinks! I’m sure there are tons of headaches and decisions to be made.

    • Ping from Adri:

      Ciao Linda,

      Headaches and decisions aplenty, davvero. I am amazed seeing this house take form right before my eyes. It is amazing to walk over there each day and see the physical progress. And thanks for the kind words about the cocktails. The experimentation is half the fun. Un abbraccio!.

  21. Ping from Pam @ MyNewlywedCookingAdventures:

    Basil simple syrup sounds so good! And adding blackberries just looks great!

    • Ping from Adri:

      Hi Pam,

      The basil simple syrup is great. You’ll love it in lemonade and mixed drinks. In fact, I suggest you experiment with all sorts of flavored simple syrups. There is s world of flavor there. Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!

  22. Ping from Liz:

    Blackberries and basil sound like a heavenly match!

  23. Ping from Bill:

    I’ve never tried Averna, but this post has piqued my interest. I’m always up for new cocktails and I think I just might have to go out and buy some Averna. Great post!!

  24. Ping from Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl:

    Blackberries are a favorite so I love seeing them featured in this post! Absolute beauty all around!

  25. Ping from TheKitchenLioness:

    Adri, I have to admit that I have never, ever tasted Averna before (I know, shame on me) – but the color of the Averna e more looks outstanding and I know that I love basil and, of course, blackberries, so this must be one wonderful drink to enjoy in late summer!
    I hope that the re-model of your living quarters is progressing as planned – all the very best for that!
    And I do hope that you are well, dear friend!
    Buon fine settimana!
    Andrea

    • Ping from Adri:

      Hi Andrea,

      Try some Averna. It really is wonderful, and it has particular affinity for citrus. Plus it is perfect with ginger beer. Thank you for the kind words about our remodel. Work continues apace, and I hope that by late next spring I’ll be coming to you from my new kitchen. Un abbraccio forte at e, amica!

  26. Ping from Judit + Corina | Glamorous Bite:

    Adri, love this fabulous cocktail! Averna and basil syrup sounds heavenly 🙂
    Cheers,
    J+C

  27. Ping from lisaiscooking:

    I love the mix of blackberries and basil! One of these cocktails would be perfect right now.

  28. Ping from Mette:

    I can see why you need a drink, Adri. But at least you can see progress from one day to the next.

  29. Ping from Carolyn Jung:

    Any cocktail with fresh blackberries is one I have to try. I can feel fall around the corner, so I can’t wait to grab some of the season’s last berries to make this with.

  30. Ping from Choc Chip Uru:

    What a beautiful cocktail, the colour is stunning!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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