Ascoli Piceno Iced Tea
On a hot summer day all you want is something refreshing, hydrating and of course tasty! What about all the above plus a little alcohol! Low ABV cocktails are all the rage especially in the summer because who doesn’t want to stay hydrated but also be able to hang with family and friends for hours while imbibing! I love drinking iced tea on the warmer days when water sometimes becomes a bit redundant and the alcohol drinks we know with iced tea are always so strong and not good at all. Just thinking about them makes me cringe…yuck! But fear no more I have the cocktail for you tea lovers. Amaro (Amari plural) is by far my favorite category in spirits because of the history, the selection of plants and herbs and its versatility when making cocktails. The process of making Amaro actually resembles that of a tea bag inside of water. The selected herbs, roots, barks, fruits, vegetables and other ingredients for each individual Amaro brand macerate in the choose base spirit. Basically the flavors are steeping in the booze just like tea leaves with water. Knowing what Amaro to pair with my Black Tea was easy for me I wanted something slightly sweet yet slightly bitter with floral and citrus notes that would pair and enhance the flavors of the tea. I choose a favorite of mine Amaro Meletti made in Ascoli Piceno which is a Province in the Marche region of Italy. I am privileged enough to actually being able to visit the amazing place in the next couple months. At the Meletti Distillery they have a Caffe called of course Caffe Meletti where they serve food, beverages and also a store for you to to buy their products. I have been dreaming to go here for sometime now and I could imagine myself drinking an Amaro flavored Iced Tea as I sit and people watch outside the Caffe looking out to the Piazza and relaxing. La Vita E Bella!
4-6 Mint Leaves Muddled
2 Slices Cucumber Muddled
1 1/2 oz. Amaro Meletti
1/4 oz. Honey Syrup
4-5 oz. Black Iced Tea
Add the mint and cucumber into your shaker tin and muddle. Then add all the other ingredients with a few ice cubes and shake for around 5 seconds. We want to get all the ingredients to marry together but we don’t want to over dilute! Next fill a chilled glass with crushed ice and double strain the tea cocktail into your glass. Next garnish with a mint bouquet, lemon and cucumber wheels! Serve and Enjoy!
A little background on my preferred spirits:
Amaro Meletti: Silvio Meletti began producing Anisette liqueurs in 1870 in Ascoli Piceno a Province in Marche. A few years later began producing this beautiful Amaro. With notes of saffron, lavender, violet, rose, chocolate, anise, cloves and orange peel. Family-owned and -operated for more than 140 years.