nebbia di garda

1 1/2 oz Meletti Amaro
3/4 oz S. Maria Al Monte Amaro
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup

Build in a Highball glass and fill with crushed ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint and freshly grated nutmeg, and add a straw.

Two weeks ago on a Wednesday, I paid a visit to bartender Matthew Schrage at the Blue Room. For a first cocktail, Matthew suggested an amaro-forward drink he called Nebbia di Garda. When I inquired about the name, he explained that it meant the "fog of Lake Garda," and that alpine lake in northern Italy is near where S. Maria al Monte Amaro is made.
The mint and nutmeg garnishes contributed greatly to the Nebbia di Garda's nose. A caramel and lemon sip containing a mint-like note was followed by a violet flower and herbal menthol swallow. For a cold Winter's eve, the drink did have a lot of welcomed Springtime elements to it.