Meletti Swizzle
A rum swizzle built on the sweetest of the Italian amari, over crushed ice
Ingredients
- 1/2 ozLime JuiceFresh
- 2 dashesOrange BittersOver the top after swizzlingSubstitute: Regans' Orange No. 6
- 1 1/2 ozAmaro MelettiThe base, and the heaviest thing in the glassSubstitute: Another sweet caramel-led amaro
- 6 leavesMint LeavesIn the glass before the ice
- 1 ozAged RumA Jamaican or blended aged rum
Instructions
- Put 6 leaves of mint in the base of a Collins glass
- Add 1 1/2 oz Amaro Meletti, 1 oz aged rum and 1/2 oz lime juice, then fill with crushed ice
- Swizzle from the bottom until the glass frosts, then top with more crushed ice
Work the stick at the base; the amaro is the heaviest thing in the glass
- Add 2 dashes orange bitters over the top and garnish with a sprig of mint
Technique Notes
Swizzle from the bottom, not the top. The amaro is heavier than the rum and the lime, and a stick worked only at the surface leaves the last third of the glass tasting like the first third of a different drink.
Why the Meletti Swizzle Works
Meletti is caramel, anise and saffron, and it is sweet enough that a stirred drink built on it cloys within three sips. Crushed ice and lime are the fix: continuous dilution and real acid, which is exactly what the swizzle format exists to provide.