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Cynar – Acquire the Taste
The Cyn-Cin AKA the Cin-Cyn
Who said artichoke season was over? Well who ever it was doesn’t know about Cynar (chee-NAHR.) Yes, it’s back to bitters with Adri. As much as I enjoy a sweet fruity little something, amaro centric drinks or an amaro consumed neat are satisfying, and so complex, they are on my Desert Island List.
The holidays are here, and with all the feasting, you’ll be looking for something to relieve that feeling of having overdone it at the table. The answer – Italy’s amari. The deal with amari however, is it often takes some coaxing to induce people to give them a go. Cynar, in spite of having probably the coolest label ever, was particularly rough. I mean who wants to dive into a 33 proof something made of artichokes?
The first thing I heard was “May have choked Artie, but it ain’t gonna choke me.” Everyone’s a comedian, I thought. I had to remind my guests how much they enjoyed the amari I have served over the last year. “And this is artichokes plus 12 other herbals and botanicals.” I said. “It will help your digestion.” And then I added, “It was invented in 1952 – the same year I was born.” That last bit may have taken it too far, but once the tasting began, I heard things like tobacco, herbal, green and woody, bittersweet and finally, “I like it.” Mission accomplished.
In the ongoing spirit of my articles on starts and finishes for the holidays, Cynar is also a great aperitivo, and at 33 proof, a good deal lower in alcohol than many other amari – l’amaro vero ma leggero – an authentic amaro, but light, just like the company’s ad says. Drink it neat, straight up or over ice with soda or tonic and a bit of orange or in cocktails such as Art of the Choke, Choke Your Mother, Little Italy or my favorite, Cyn-Cin (alternate spelling Cin-Cyn), a contemporary take on Italy’s famous Negroni. I think of it as Son of Negroni. Read the remainder of this entry »