Cardamaro Sour
The Cardamaro Sour is a delightful twist on the classic sour formula, substituting the usual whiskey or gin with Cardamaro, a nutty and herbaceous Italian amaro. This creates a drink with a unique flavor profile, balancing bittersweet herbal notes with the bright tang of fresh lemon juice. Often prepared with egg white, it boasts a rich, creamy texture and a beautiful frothy head, making it as visually appealing as it is delicious.
Preparation
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Preparation time
Difficulty
Drink Classification
The Cardamaro Sour is a modern cocktail that follows the classic 'sour' template. It is categorized as a sour cocktail, belonging to a family of drinks defined by a base spirit, citrus juice, and a sweetener. This places it alongside other famous sours like the Whiskey Sour or Amaretto Sour.
Serving
This is a moderately sized drink served chilled and straight up in a coupe or sour glass. Its alcohol content is relatively low, making for a pleasant and sessionable cocktail.
Serving size
Approximately 4-5 oz / 120-150 ml
Alcohol content
Approximately 10-12% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled
Backstory
Unlike ancient classics, the Cardamaro Sour does not have a storied history. It's a modern creation, born from the craft cocktail movement's love for amari and classic templates. Bartenders began experimenting with substituting various amari into the sour format, and the unique, wine-based, and gently bitter profile of Cardamaro proved to be an excellent candidate for this treatment.
Origin
The drink is a contemporary American creation, likely emerging in the 2010s. It's part of a broader trend of "amaro sours" that gained popularity in cocktail bars across the United States and Europe.
Cardamaro Sour
The drink is primarily known by its straightforward name, Cardamaro Sour, which clearly indicates its base ingredient and cocktail family.
Original name
Cardamaro Sour
Characteristics overview
The drink offers a complex herbal and nutty flavor balanced by sharp citrus, with a silky smooth texture from the egg white. Its aroma is bright and herbal, leading to a clean, bittersweet finish.
Flavor
Herbaceous, bittersweet, nutty, citrusy, wine-like
Aroma
Herbal, lemon zest, subtle spice
Taste balance
Sour, slightly sweet, moderately bitter
Aftertaste
Clean, lingering herbal bitterness, nutty
Fizziness
None
Color appearance
Pale gold, opaque with a thick white foam head
Texture
Silky, smooth, frothy, creamy
Seasonality
Refreshing, year-round
Flavor intensity & Experience
The flavor profile is led by a pronounced sourness and moderate bitterness, with gentle sweetness and a creamy mouthfeel. It is not spicy, salty, or carbonated, and has a relatively light alcohol presence.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation
Ingredients
This cocktail requires the specific Cardamaro Vino Amaro as its base, complemented by standard sour ingredients like fresh lemon juice and simple syrup. An optional egg white is highly recommended for texture.
- Cardamaro Vino Amaro2 oz / 60 mlA wine-based amaro flavored with cardoon and blessed thistle, giving it a distinct nutty and herbaceous profile.
- Fresh Lemon Juice1 oz / 30 mlFreshly squeezed is essential for the best flavor.
- Simple Syrup0.5 oz / 15 ml1:1 ratio of sugar to water. Adjust to taste.
- Egg White0.5 oz / 15 ml (about 1 large egg white)(optional)Creates a silky texture and frothy head. Can be substituted with aquafaba for a vegan version or omitted entirely.
Ice type
- Cubed
Mixing equipments
You will need a standard cocktail shaker set, including jiggers for accurate measurement and a dual-strainer setup for a smooth, ice-free pour.
- Cocktail shaker for mixing and chilling.
- Strainer (Hawthorne and fine-mesh) for pouring.
- Jigger for measuring ingredients.
Instructions
The preparation involves a two-step shaking process: first a 'dry shake' without ice to build foam, followed by a 'wet shake' with ice to chill and dilute. The drink is then double-strained into a chilled coupe and garnished.
1. Chill your coupe glass by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer.
2. Combine Cardamaro, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white in a cocktail shaker without ice.
3. Perform a 'dry shake': seal the shaker and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white and create foam.
4. Add a generous amount of cubed ice to the shaker, seal it again, and perform a 'wet shake': shake hard for another 10-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled.
5. Empty the ice from your chilled coupe glass. Double-strain the contents of the shaker into the glass to ensure a smooth texture.
6. Garnish with a lemon twist and/or drops of bitters on the foam. Serve immediately.
Garnishing
A simple lemon twist adds aromatic citrus oils that complement the drink's flavors. A few drops of aromatic bitters on the foam can also be added for an extra layer of aroma.
- Lemon Twist: Express the oils from a lemon peel over the drink and drop it in.
- Bitters: Optionally, add a few drops of Angostura bitters onto the foam head for aromatic complexity and visual appeal.
Dietary Information
This cocktail contains egg, making it unsuitable for vegans or those with egg allergies, though aquafaba is a common substitute. It is naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and caffeine-free.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✕ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✕ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly
Nutrition information
This cocktail has a moderate calorie and sugar content, primarily from the Cardamaro and simple syrup. The nutritional values can vary based on the exact proportions and sweetness of the syrup used.
Calories
Averagely 180-220 kcal / 753-920 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 15-20 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 12-16 g
Sugar level
Occasions
Its balanced and moderately low-alcohol nature makes the Cardamaro Sour an excellent aperitif to stimulate the appetite. It's also a sophisticated choice for cocktail hour or as an impressive feature drink at a dinner party.
- Aperitif
- Cocktail Hour
- Dinner Parties
Pairing suggestions
The bittersweet and herbal notes of the Cardamaro Sour pair wonderfully with salty and savory appetizers. Consider serving it with a charcuterie board featuring cured meats, hard Italian cheeses, and marinated olives to complement its complex flavor profile.
- Cured Meats (Prosciutto, Salami)
- Hard Cheeses (Pecorino, Parmesan)
- Marinated Olives and Nuts
The Cardamaro Sour: An Elegant Amaro Adventure
The Cardamaro Sour is a sophisticated and modern cocktail that showcases the unique qualities of Cardamaro amaro. It is perfectly balanced between sour, sweet, and bitter, with a complex herbaceous and nutty character. The use of egg white gives it a luxurious, silky texture that elevates the drinking experience. It's an excellent choice for those looking to explore amaro-based cocktails beyond the Negroni and is sure to impress with its elegant presentation and refined taste.
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